“In the final accounting it will all come down to whether or not we have learned the true meaning of love.”
The Seven Works of Mercy
In 1607 the church of Pio Monte della Misericordia in Naples approached the Renaissance painter Caravaggio about a commission. They asked for a series of seven panels illustrating the seven corporal works of mercy.
For some reason, the commission changed. It is likely the church could not afford seven works by the master so it was agreed that the artist would execute one painting which would incorporate all seven acts of mercy.
The result is known as “Sette opere di Misericordia” or “The Seven Works of Mercy” and still hangs as the altarpiece in the church for which it was commissioned.
The composition consists of several figures. In the background, two men carry a dead body, illustrating the act of “burying the dead.” On the right side, a woman visits an imprisoned man and feeds him with milk from her breast, a symbolic act of charity. The woman shows us the virtues of “visiting the imprisoned” and “feeding the hungry.”
“Sheltering the Homeless” is shown on the left side as a pilgrim asks an innkeeper for shelter. In the foreground the story of Saint Martin “clothing the naked” is depicted. Saint Martin not only cuts his cloak in two to clothe a beggar, but he also comforts the beggar who is also a cripple (“visiting the sick”.)
Finally the figure of Samson drinking water from the jawbone of an ass gives us “bringing water to the thirsty.”
Hovering over this tableau is an angel, a messenger of God that reminds us that it is God’s grace that inspires us to be merciful to each other. This is further conveyed by the artist’s characteristic use of light. The grace of God illuminates a world darkened by sin.
Christian Mercy
As the year comes to a close and days become shorter, we are reminded of what, in the end, is truly important. It is not our foolish arguments over trivial things, it is not the amount of material possessions we have acquired, or how much money we have made. But rather, how we have loved and served God. As we have learned in the past few weeks, how we love and serve God is demonstrated by how we treat each other, particularly those in greatest need of our help.
The impact of Christianity on early society is not generally understood. In the ancient world, mercy was a sign of weakness. Justice demanded that people got what they deserved and that was seen as appropriate. Mercy on the other hand extended grace, love, and kindness to people who had done nothing to deserve it.
But Christians valued mercy. Christian communities were places where people lived longer and healthier lives. When they became sick or poor or suffered some mishap, they had brothers and sisters in Christ who provided for their need.
Many historians trace the rise in Christianity to the simple fact that Christians generously loved each other as well as their neighbors, even their pagan neighbors.
In a time when it was customary to abandon unwanted newborns in the wilderness, it was often Christians who would find them, take them in and raise them.
The Christian Response
In A.D. 251 a great plague struck the ancient Greco-Roman world. Those that could afford it fled to the countryside, those who could not were forced to stay in the cities. The streets were filled with infected persons who had been turned out from their homes. Everyone lived in fear.
But Christians saw this as an opportunity to exercise the Christ-like love they claimed to embrace. They took the sick and the dying into their homes and nursed them. Many recovered who would otherwise have died and many Christian care-givers lost their lives.
Historian Henry Chadwick stated in his book The Early Church, “The practical application of charity was probably the most potent single cause of Christian success.”
In the final accounting it will all come down to whether or not we have learned the true meaning of love. Have we learned to give of ourselves for the benefit of others? Or do we go through our days focused on our own needs and our own desires? The answer will tell us where our heart truly lies, and where our heart is, there will our treasure be.
Throughout Scripture, Christ absolutely and intimately associates Himself with the hungry and the thirsty, the aliens and the homeless. Each time we encounter the most miserable among us, we encounter He who will one day be our judge.
Relativism has taken hold of our society. There is no longer good or evil, beauty or ugliness. Everything is seen through the lens of relativism. In a world that has denied absolutes in favor of shades of gray, the words of Christ are startling. On the Day of Judgment we will be divided into those who love God and those who freely chose to live their lives without Him. There are no half-measures. We are divided right and left, sheep and goats. There is no in-between. Those who love God will go to eternal life, while those who reject Him are consigned to the “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Every day we are given dozens of opportunities to serve Christ by serving our brothers and sisters. Do we even notice?
Pax Vobiscum
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe