CONFIRMATION: CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY

Introduction:
The Corporal Works of Mercy are oriented toward the body. Six of the seven are mentioned in Matthew
25:31-40 - although not precisely - as the reason for the salvation of the saved, while Matthew 25:41-46
exhorts the omission of them as the reason for damnation. As deprivation of burial was viewed with
horror by the Jews, the seventh Corporal Work of Mercy (Tobit 1:17-19) was later added.
The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy and their Holy Scripture references are:
Feed the Hungry Proverbs 22:9 Matthew 14:15-2125:35

Isaiah 50:10 Luke 3:11; 9:12-17

2Kings 4:42-44 John 6:35

Give Drink to the Thirsty Isaiah 55:1 John 7:37-29

Matthew 25:35 Revelation 21:6; 22:17

John 6:35

Clothe the Naked Matthew 25:36

Shelter the Homeless Matthew 25:35

Visit the Sick Matthew 25:36

Visit the Imprisoned Matthew 25:36

Bury the Dead Tobit 1:17-19

Examination: The Works of Mercy

The Corporal Works of Mercy Read each example below and identify which Corporal Work of Mercy it
describes.

A. Feed the Hungry B. Shelter the Homeless C. Clothe the Naked

D. Visit the Sick E. Give Alms to the Poor F. Bury the Dead G. Visit the Imprisoned

Remember the Corporal Works of Mercy are Acts of Love

1. carry small bills, loose change, or coupon book to hand out to those who are poor
2. make a few sandwiches to hand out to homeless people
3. spend time with people in the hospital
4. be faithful about attending wakes/visitation/funerals
5. support and/or participate in ministries to those who are in prison
6. work to support laws that provide housing for people who are poor
7. go through your drawers and closets and find good-condition clothes to donate to St. Vincent
DePaul, the Salvation Army, or other agencies that accept clothing
 CONFIRMATION: CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY

Examination of Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Reflection Question: What neighbor in need is at the top of my agenda this week?
- What need do I see around me?
- What am I going to do about it?
31
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, 32 and
all the nations[a] will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a
Shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. - [Reflects Gods Last Judgement separating the good from the
bad] 33He will place the sheep on his right and the goats - [Goats are viewed as less desirable than sheep. A
sheeps wool favored more than the wool of a goat. The goats are a metaphor for sinner] on his left. 34 Then the
king will say to those on his right - [The sheep are on the right, pure, the righteousness], Come, you who are
blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry
[Lack of food, bodily necessity, under nourishment] and you gave me food, I was thirsty [Lack of water, bodily
necessity, longing for satisfaction] and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 naked [Lack of
personal security, unprotected from the elements] and you clothed me, ill [Physical and spiritually weak] and
you cared for me, in prison [Loneliness, derived of human rights, treated like animals]and you visited
me. 37 Then the righteous[b] will answer him and say, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty
and give you drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did
we see you ill or in prison, and visit you? [They are taking Jesus words too literal, Jesus speaks for humanity
and for all those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, ill and in prison] 40 And the king will say to them in reply, Amen, I
say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me. 41 [c]Then he will say to
those on his left, - [Selfish, who think about themselves] Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire
prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me
no drink, 43 a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and
you did not care for me. 44 [d]Then they will answer and say, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a
stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs? 45 He will answer them, Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me. 46 And these will go off to eternal
punishment, - [Hell] but the righteous to eternal life. - [Heaven]

Conclusion - The Son of Man is of course Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. Jesus uses this imagery of goats and sheep to
illustrate a picture of Gods Last Judgment. The good and the bad will be separated. Feeding, clothing and visiting
are ways that we humans show compassion for one another. Those who show compassion will be led into heaven
while the uncompassionate banish to hell.

Notes:

God intends to judge our cooperation or non-cooperation with his plans

- Teaching of Jesus for how we should treat others:

Provide compassionate help to needy neighbors of all kinds

charitable actions to help our neighbor
our response to the basic needs of humanity

When we help, we encounter Jesus!

- When we extend His love to the needy person (our neighbor), we meet him in that person!
In the interaction, then, between a person in need and a person who meets the need, Jesus
is doubly present. If we are looking for him, wanting to get to know him better, that
interaction is the place to be.
 CONFIRMATION: CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY
Corporal
Works of Mercy
2. To give drink to the thirsty. What is said of food
also applies to drink.
[Examples: Giving someone a glass of water, sharing a
drink on a hot day, donating to charities that support
facilities for clean drinking water in third world
countries].
4. To visit the imprisoned. Those in prison and many
other persons and their families suffer hindrances or
dangers to freedom. Helping them, visiting them or
protecting them is an act of love.
[Examples: Visiting prisoners, fighting for humane
treatment for the imprisoned, helping to care for the
families of the imprisoned].
6. To visit the sick. Helping sick people in any way is
an act of love.
[Examples: Visiting someone in the hospital or nursing
home. Visiting someone who is sick at home or the
elderly who are homebound. Running an errand for an
elderly or sick person. Reading to the sick or elderly].
1. To feed the hungry. Everyone needs food
for their body. It is an act of love to help
others to obtain their bodily nourishment,
especially those in greatest need.
[Examples: Bringing food to the poor, donating
money to buy food for the poor, sharing your
food, volunteering at the local food pantry].
3. To clothe the naked. Everyone needs
clothing for warmth, protection, modesty and
dignity. It is an act of love to help others
obtain clothing, especially those who need
help.
[Examples: Bringing clothes to a needy family,
sharing outgrown clothes with another family,
bringing clothes to a clothing drive, helping a
young child get dressed, helping with laundry at
home].
5. To shelter the homeless. Everyone needs
shelter. Some people live in cardboard homes;
some people live in homes made of discarded
materials; many people are homeless. To help
the homeless obtain shelter or to preserve it is
an act of love.
[Examples: Bringing others to your home in
times of fire, floods, or other disaster. Working
at or supporting a homeless shelter. Helping to
take care of your own house].
7. To bury the dead. It is an act of love to show
respect for the bodies of the dead; they were
temples of the Holy Spirit and received the
Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion.
[Examples: Going to funerals and wakes.
Treating cemeteries with respect. Cutting the
grass on a grave. Putting flowers on it].