September 11

The Dividing Line

And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ — Matt 25:44 BSB

We can no longer serve our Lord in the way people did during His time on earth, when they ministered to Him from their resources. But He has left behind His representatives, and whatever we do for them, He considers done for Himself. Therefore, we are indebted to all people; we must repay a portion of our infinite debt to the Son of Man by serving each person we encounter (Rom 1:14).

The dividing line at the final judgment won’t be based on beliefs alone—“How much did you believe?”—nor even on prayer—“How much did you pray?”—but on our actions: “What did you do?” The Apostle James tells us that our faith is proven by our works (James 2:14-20). It is not enough to say “Lord, Lord!” We must demonstrate the same love for others that our Master showed, or we will be rejected in the end.

The Lord’s brothers and sisters are spread throughout the world. Whenever we meet someone who is hungry, thirsty, a stranger, homeless, sick, or imprisoned, we meet one of those He calls His “brother” or “sister.” Helping any of them brings joy to the heart of our Redeemer. We must have the eyes of love to see through the many disguises our Lord wears. There is a story that when St. Francis of Assisi saw a leper by the roadside asking for alms, he dismounted, not only gave to him but kissed him on the cheek. As Francis rode away, he looked back and saw Christ standing where the leper had been, and he realized he had kissed his Lord.

Notice that the saints rarely realize they have done anything directly for Christ: “Lord, when did we see You?” The beauty of goodness lies in its modesty and humility, just as the charm of childhood is its innocence. Also, in Christ’s eyes, it is a sin not to act. Moses taught that it is wrong to do wrong; Jesus teaches that it is wrong not to do good. Some will be cast away, not because they broke the Ten Commandments, but because they failed to live out the Law of Love.

Let us dedicate ourselves to serving men, women, and children in the name of the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.

Prayer

Help us, dear Lord, to minister to the needs of others, to care for the poor and needy, the destitute and outcast. May we show our love for You by our compassion and help for the least of Your brethren. Amen.