The Mercy Word of the Week
As we progress through the Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis, University Ministry offers our community a "Mercy Word of the Week" to help us focus on the themes of mercy that are already so closely aligned to our mission and heritage as an institution sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy.
The first Monday of each month will bring a brief reflection on each of the University's Core Values as expressions of our Mercy charism. We hope these focused thoughts will lead to your own considered contemplation on mercy and its role in your life.
"Visiting the Sick:" Visiting the sick is something that seems to go against logic. Our culture encourages us to be concerned with yourself and our own well-being. If you're healthy, you should be going out in the world and living your passions and desires to your heart's content. It almost seems impossible to answer the question: "Who would take time out of their life to go visit sick people." We've all got plenty to do taking care of ourselves, don't we? But, Jesus invites us to do many things that require sacrifice and sacrifice seems illogical. Well, it turns out that helping people in need and raising the spirits of sick people not only builds up those people, but is the cornerstone to building up ourselves as well! Helping others is actually the best way to take the focus off ourselves and our own troubles. It's the best way to strengthen our own psychological and spiritual health. Maybe visiting the sick isn't so illogical, after all. When we visit the sick, we live we are living Mercy and we model for others how they, too, can be merciful.
Michael Cesario, graduate assistant minister for Campus Ministry
Graham School of Business