Divine mercy is–

Bold.

Immeasurable.

Never-ending.

Powerful.

Trustworthy.

I am–

A pilgrim of mercy. 

The call to visit the sick is one of the most profound expressions of love and compassion that Christianity gave birth to. We perhaps cannot imagine it any other way but this pillar of Western culture has not always existed as we know it today. Where were the sick people when Jesus was alive? Were they in hospitals? No. Why? There were no hospitals. The sick were huddled along the sides of the road and on the outskirts of town. They were abandoned by family and friends who were afraid that they themselves would become sick. Hospitals emerged in response to Jesus' teachings. The gospel is a radical invitation to kindness, compassion, generosity, and mercy.

Healthcare as we know it today is one of the many fruits of the gospel, one of the many ways Christianity changed the world. The call to care for the sick is deeply rooted in Scripture. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus identifies visiting the sick as a direct way of serving Him. "I was sick and you visited me," Jesus explains. The early Christians took Jesus' words seriously and their legacy was passed from one generation to the next. 200 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, a deadly plague broke out across Rome and the surrounding region. The healthy deserted their sick relatives. The rich left everything behind. Even the doctors fled out of fear.

But the Christians, the Christians stayed. Committed to caring for the sick, they remained in the city and shocked the ancient world. One eyewitness, Dionysius of Alexandra, wrote, "Most of our Christian brothers and sisters showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ." The Romans had never seen anything like this. The world had never seen anything like this. Over the past 2,000 years, Jesus's call to care for the sick has changed the world.

The very essence of healthcare and caring for the sick emerged through the church, through the religious orders, in direct response to the value and dignity that the gospel assigns to each and every human being. While healthcare has been institutionalized, we are still called to continue this beautiful legacy of mercy by caring for the sick. Even though we have hospitals, antibiotics, and intricate healthcare systems, we are still called to visit the sick and not just to the physically sick. Our age is also plagued by a mental health epidemic. Millions of men, women, and children are grappling with the overwhelming effects of anxiety, depression, and a wide range of other mental health conditions.

This corporal work of mercy reflects the heart of the gospel, to see Christ in the suffering of others, to bring hope where there is despair, and to comfort those who are in pain. Whether you have a relative dying of cancer or a loved one going through a deep depression, we are called to visit the sick. Living out this corporal work of mercy to visit the sick requires both intentionality and compassion. It challenges us to go beyond our comfort zones and to prioritize the needs of others. There are so many simple, practical ways to tend to the sick. Offer to run errands, prepare a meal, sit with them, read to them, offer to take them to see their doctor, help with childcare, be an empathetic listener, or simply reach out to check in. Each of these expressions of care and concern continue a vast tradition the early Christians set in motion. All these expressions of care and concern are practical manifestations of God's mercy. This faith in action is central to what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. It's not convenient. It may be uncomfortable at times. But Jesus' invitation to visit the sick asks us to go where others hesitate to go. This is one of the most powerful countercultural impacts that the early Christians had on the world, and their impact lives on today in you and me. You see, the good we do never dies. It lives on in other people, in other places, and in other times. Each work of mercy also draws us closer to Christ. Mercy is always an invitation to a better life in large ways and small ways. Visiting the sick isn't just about helping others. It also transforms us. It teaches us humility. It fosters gratitude for our own health, which we often take for granted. It brings us face to face with the fragility of life, and it deepens our faith. Jesus didn't see taking care of the sick as a side hustle. He didn't see it as inconvenient. And he didn't see it as a distraction to his main mission. He exhibited a preference for those who were sick, whether their illness was physical or spiritual. The catechism reminds us of this enduring truth. Jesus' compassion toward all who suffer goes so far that he identifies himself with them. I was sick and you visited me. His preferential love for the sick has not ceased through the centuries to draw the very special attention of Christians toward all those who suffer in body and soul. It is the source of tireless efforts to comfort them. Inspired by this truth, Catholics care for more sick people every day than any other organization in the world. Mercy is love reaching out to misery. Will you do your part? Trust, surrender, believe, and receive. Did you know there are 57 amazing moments of engagement during the Mass? Did you know each and every one of them connects with your daily life and teaches us something about the genius of Catholicism? Did you know this year we will finish our extraordinary program about the mass so that everyone can learn about these 57 moments of engagement in the Mass? If you are a Dynamic Catholic Ambassador, thank you. And this is what we are spending your money on this year. If you are not, I invite you today to become a Dynamic Catholic Ambassador, choose your welcome gift, and help us eradicate, "Mass is boring," from the Catholic vernacular. Click the button below and remember, Be Bold, Be Catholic.

Eternal God.

In whom mercy is endless.

And the treasury of compassion inexhaustible.

Look kindly upon us.

And increase your mercy in us.

That in difficult moments.

We might not despair.

Nor become despondent.

But with great confidence.

Submit ourselves to your holy will.

Which is love and mercy itself.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

See you tomorrow.

Thank you, ambassadors.

You are changing the world.

Have a great day.

Have a great day.

Have a great day!

Hey, Isabel. One of the best ways to be a pilgrim of mercy is to collaborate with God to create holy moments. So I figured, while we have a couple of minutes, you could inspire the audience to create some holy moments. So what is today's Holy Moment Challenge?

Today's Holy Moments Challenge is pray for someone by name today.