The Spiritual Works of Mercy - Part 1: Admonish the Sinner

As Christians, it seems to me that more focus and attention is given to the corporal works of mercy--feed the hungry, visit the sick, shelter the homeless, etc.--rather than the spiritual works of mercy. People often read Matthew 25:31-46 regarding the final judgment and think that's all we have to do to be considered a "sheep" rather than a "goat".


For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me. I was ill and you comforted me, in prison and you came to visit me.


But the spiritual works of mercy are just as important.


The seven spiritual works of mercy are:
  To instruct the ignorant
  To counsel the doubtful
  To admonish sinners
  To bear wrongs patiently.
  To forgive offences willingly
  To comfort the afflicted
  To pray for the living and the dead


I would like to focus on one at a time. I will begin with admonishing sinners.


My brothers, the case may arise among you of someone straying from the truth, and of another bringing him back. Remember this: the person who brings a sinner back from his way will save his soul from death and cancel a multitude of sins.  James 5:19-20


  I think that pointing out someone's sin is one of the most difficult of the spiritual works of mercy. It's especially difficult in our times because of the doctrine of relativism--that knowledge, truth and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute. If we are dealing with someone who believes in the doctrine of relativism, it's useless to point out where he or she is straying from the truth.
  There was a word of wisdom spoken by the late Mother Angelica:
We don't like to speak the truth about evil because we're going to hurt somebody. Let me tell you, you are going to hurt somebody, but that Somebody is God. If you would rather hurt God than your neighbor, there is something wrong with your spirituality. It's your obligation to speak the truth and everyone can either take it or leave it. But truth must be in us. We live in such poverty of the truth today.
  Also, when we bring to someone's attention an area where they are going the wrong direction we don't want to do so in a Pharasitical way--that we are the holy one pointing out their error. No, we must approach the person in love and humility, as one sinner admonishing another.  He is able to deal patiently with erring sinners, for he himself is beset by weakness...  Hebrews 5:2
  We are not called to admonish every sinner we know. We must first have a personal relationship with them. They should feel that we care for them--that we are speaking to them about this area of their lives out of love, not out of judgment. (regarding judging others, we are judging their actions, not the person themselves.)  We should also sense that the Holy Spirit is prompting us to speak to this person regarding their sin.  We should pray for some time before confronting the person, asking the Holy Spirit to give us the words to speak and asking God to help them to be open to what we have to say.  Let your speech be always gracious and in good taste,...  Colossians 4:6a
  No one likes to be corrected. Almost everyone (including me) responds initially with denial, excuses or rationalization. Sometimes the person will become angry with you and remain angry for some time. Our job is not to convince a person of their error. Our job is to be obedient to the Holy Spirit; to share our discernment, to bring the sin into the light, and then to step back and let the Holy Spirit do the rest.  If the person doesn't return to the right path it doesn't mean we were wrong to confront them.


...and the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome but must be kindly toward all. He must be an apt teacher, patiently and gently correcting those who contradict him, in the hope always that God will enable them to repent and know the truth. Thus, taken captive by God to do His will, they shall escape the devil's trap.  2 Timothy 2:24-26