Introducing a nine-part series on the corporal works of mercy and the nonprofits bringing them to life.
In Matthew 25:34-36, Christ lays the biblical groundwork for those actions termed “the corporal works of mercy.” He says, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” Interestingly, these few lines of scripture fall under the broader classification of how the nations will be judged. Mind you, that’s not just how we as individuals are to be judged, but our collective culture—i.e., our social order and moral structure. Civil society is being held to this standard, and performing the corporal works of mercy is integral to a healthy and virtuous nation.
In our society, some people have dedicated their time, talent, and treasure to performing these works—not just as a side endeavor, but as the driving force in their lives. Day in and day out, they do the (sometimes) uncomfortable work of love. The path can be narrow, but if we desire to be the “sheep on his right” (Mt. 25:33) who are welcomed into the Kingdom of God, this work is crucial, not only for the sake of the needy, but for the sake of the laborers’ souls as well.
The Center for Civil Society and its sponsor, AmPhil, are blessed to partner with dozens of nonprofit organizations that carry out the corporal works of mercy on a daily basis. In a coming series of articles, we will lay out exactly how some of these nonprofits perform a particular work, and the impact (foreseen by Christ) they are having in the world.
These nonprofits acknowledge that they are among those Christ designates as “blessed by my Father,” and take seriously His exhortation to minister to the hungry, the thirsty, the homeless, the naked, the ill, the imprisoned, and the dead.
This ministry takes many forms, and we will lay out some of the ways our nonprofit partners are embodying the corporal works. We will describe how one nonprofit is feeding millions of Ukrainian refugees, how another has given drink to the thirsty in over 60 countries, and how yet another is providing shelter to thousands of men on the streets of Philadelphia. We’ll also feature nonprofits performing the additional four corporal works of mercy, answering Christ’s call across the world.
It is a pleasure to share these nonprofits’ labors of love and to highlight the incredible difference that each of these organizations is making in the lives of the needy. We’re honored to be in the trenches with them, serving alongside them, and playing a role in growing the impact that each of them is having.
