# You did it to me: a practical guide to mercy in action
*2018-11-26*

> Bill Young discusses the urgent importance of practicing mercy in light of the suddenness of death, drawing from the teachings of Father Michael Gaitley and the Gospel of Matthew.

## The Urgency of Mercy

I am starting a study of a book called 'A Practical Guide to Mercy in Action' by Father Michael Gaitley. In the opening, Father Mike shares a message from Jesus to St. Faustina: if a soul does not exert mercy, it will not obtain mercy on the day of judgment. He emphasizes that we can gather eternal treasures for ourselves now so that we may be met with mercy rather than judgment.

This book focuses on the powerful passage in Matthew 25:31-46, which describes the end of time. Christ, the King in His majesty, will tell some, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you,' while to others He will say, 'Depart from me, you are cursed into eternal fire.' This is a sobering reminder that our eternal destiny depends on how we treat others.

## Reflections on Mortality

Lately, I have been struck by how many people in my life are passing away unexpectedly. My wife's first cousin, a healthy 43-year-old travel agent, passed away suddenly on Christmas Eve from a heart attack. A colleague at the B&T Center was diagnosed with stage four cancer and passed away only four days later at age 60. I've heard of other friends and public figures, like Dwight Clark, passing away recently as well.

As the Bible teaches, death can come like a thief in the night. I could die tonight or tomorrow. This reality is why the message of 'You Did It to Me' is so vital. It is a matter of life and death, heaven and hell.

## Mercy in Action

The key word in this guide is 'action.' It is easy for us to say we love the poor or that we want to be charitable, but we often fail to put that love into practice. I am the first to admit that I don't do enough; in the spiritual life, 'enough' is never truly enough. With the grace of God, I hope to learn how to move from sentiment to action through this book.

Because I believe this message is so important, I want to make the book available to anyone who cannot afford it. Whether you get it through Amazon or Marian Press, it is an affordable resource, but if you truly cannot afford the ten or fifteen dollars, please contact me and I will be happy to send you a copy.

## Prayer and Divine Mercy

In honor of my wife's cousin and for all our intentions, we pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy. We remember those left behind, including her two young sons, and we commit to supporting their religious needs. Through the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Litany of Divine Mercy, we acknowledge that God's mercy is an incomprehensible mystery, the source of our happiness, and our only hope in the hour of death.

I have felt God calling my attention recently through small signs of the Trinity in my daily life. I want to remain His servant, ready to do whatever He asks of me, because my love for the Lord Jesus Christ is greater than anything else.

*We must move beyond merely feeling love for others and put mercy into concrete action, for our eternal destiny depends on how we served Christ in the poor and suffering.*