…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. (Mt 25:40)
…whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. (Mt 25:45)
As we all enjoy our summer activities and travel, I thought this meditation from Pope Francis would provide a great reminder of who, as Christians, we are called to be.
What the Poor Teach Us
The poor are the privileged teachers of our knowledge of God, their frailty and simplicity unmask our selfishness, our false security, and our claims to be self-sufficient. The poor guide us to experience God’s closeness and tenderness, to receive his love in our lives, his mercy as The Father who cares for us, for all of us, with discretion and patient trust. From this place of welcome encounter and service, I would, therefore, like to launch a few questions to everyone…
- Do I bend down over someone in difficulty, or am I afraid to get my hands dirty?
- Am I closed in on myself and my possessions, or am I aware of those in need of help?
- Do I serve only myself, or am I able to serve others like Christ who came to serve even to the point of giving up his life?
We are asked to always bring a handful of kindness wherever we go and to be shared with everyone we encounter. This is Jesus' desire, and this is God’ s command.
Enjoy the rest of your summer, and we’ll see you all in September.
Pastor Alan