Jesus has led us by example throughout the Gospel.  There are many accounts of Jesus healing the sick, raising the dead, removing demons from the possessed, providing food and comfort to others.  All of the people that Jesus helped were truly in need.  They weren’t very wealthy
people and a lot of them were social outcasts because of their leprosy or their illicit lifestyles.

Just as a doctor does not cure the well, Jesus did not help those who didn’t need help, he helped those in need.  We are commissioned to do likewise and we will be judged by Jesus on how we treated our brothers and sisters who were in need.  When we feed the hungry, give drink to someone who is thirsty, clothe those who have no clothing, visit and pray for those in prison (including those in purgatory who cannot pray for themselves) or make a stranger feel welcome we are doing these things for Jesus, and if we do them with Jesus in mind we are doing them FOR Jesus.  Jesus said, “When you do those things for any of my brothers and sisters in need, you do it for me. And those who do these things will live with God forever.”

In the Second Coming we will be judged on how we loved one another and cared for the poor and needy around us.  Our acts of love and charity should be done in the realization that Jesus loves us.  His love should be enough to cause us to fall upon our knees and worship Him and it should be what pushes us out into the world to spread His love to everyone with whom we come into contact!  To our loved ones, our friends, the needy and, yes, even our enemies.

As we contemplate our loving, merciful King today, we should ask him to inspire us to serve his kingdom. And whenever we perform acts of charity, let’s see them as a way that we can give our hearts back to Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for us.

The Psalm this week is Psalm 23: I Shall Not Want  click on the MP3 player #99297 from the list - the words at the bottom of the page.

Peace to you in Christ.