Gospel Reading: Mt 25:31-46
JESUS said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘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.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’… And these will go off… to eternal life.”
Reflection: For I was hungry and you gave me food
At the Last Judgment, Jesus will call people who have taken seriously charity as rule of life to enter his Kingdom. In concrete, they are those who have fed the hungry. Jesus has long identified himself with the needy. Jesus entitles them to this big reward because they have understood that religion is all about helping the poor. Nothing similar is awarded to Christians who build monuments in the Church and murmur many prayers.
Jesus pays attention to his disciples who have been found generous in their charity work. He wants them in. Many become saints because they translate prayer into concretely helping the less fortunate. They pray and solicit food for them. They give whatever they receive and do not demand to be reciprocated. They do not think of their own benefit and personal security. They are other-centered. They see God in the poor. They do not turn away from the ugly and the filthy.
Nowadays there are many ways to give. Donations can be made electronically. We can use modern technology to enhance our charity work. Our parishes need social workers to check on the real beneficiaries.
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Are you a saint in the making? Be more generous.
Take care those who hunger for God and his blessings.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2018” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
