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Homily
“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers or sisters of mine, you did to me.” We just hear these words in the story Jesus told about the coming of the Son of Man in his glory, at the end times.
We also heard in this same story, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did not do of one of these least ones, you did not do for me.” When we only think about our self, when we only think about our own agenda, we are blind to the needs of others.
Today’s Scriptures remind us that the opportunities are there every day to care in some way or ways for our brothers and sisters in need. The Lord is asking us to see them…
In the words of Micah the Prophet, “this is what the Lord asks of us: to act justly, to love tenderly, to walk humbly with our God.” Our God is hiding, if you will in, the least of our brothers and sisters.
The story is told that once a poor lady got a letter without a stamp and postmark, with her name and address. As she read the letter she was trembling, “Dear Rose, I would like to pay a visit to you tomorrow. Love always, Jesus”
Why would Jesus visit me? I have nothing but $5 in my pocket, Rose thought to herself. In the frigid cold, Rose walked in ragged clothes to the market, where she bought a loaf of bread and a carton of milk.
Amid the bustling people to and from on Christmas Eve sat a homeless man on the sidewalk. He was unshaven and dirty, with a shivering arm holding an empty cup. “Lady, can you help me? I have been living on the street and it is really getting cold on an empty stomach. If you could help me, I would really appreciate it…”
“Sir, I would like to help, but I myself am a poor woman and all I have is this bread, which I bought for an important guest coming tomorrow.”
“That’s okay,” said the man, “I can understand, Merry Christmas.”
As Rose walked away her footstep stuttered and she felt a pang in the center of her heart. She turned back towards the man and said, “Sir, wait, I think maybe I can help… Sir, take this food with you. I will figure something out to serve my guest.”
“Thank you! Thank you!” the man replied with sincere happiness.
Then Rose unbuttoned her coat, gave it to the man and said, “you know, I have another coat at home, you can take this one.”
Rose was panicking about not having anything to offer Jesus after she reached home. As Rose opened the door to her house, she found another letter under the door, similar to the first one. The letter read: “Dear Rose, It was good to see you. Thank you for a lovely meal and also for your beautiful coat. Love always, Jesus.”
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“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers or sisters of mine, you did to me.”