One of many...A Call to Action

Jesus our Lord speaks. "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He iwll put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
The the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? Wehen did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
The King will reply, ' I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"
Matthew 25:31-40

Jesus preaches a holistic ministry, he lived a holistic ministry. He didn't stress to just go out and tell people about the Lord, and take care of their spiritual need. But also to take care of people's physical needs. He is the Bread of life, the Living water, but he also shares with us that those who give physical bread and physical water in his name will be known as his sheep and separated from the goats. When was the last time I fed a hungry man in Minneapolis? When was the last time I gave drink to a poor woman on the street? When did I last invite someone in my home? When did I last give clothes to someone who had worn the same, too small of clothes for the past 3 months? When did I last love someone with no words, but in deed? I'm afraid Jesus is going to ask those same questions. And when we have no answer, will he ask, "Then how did you express my love to those you told about me? Did you speak my love or did you show my love?"
I believe those countless stories of Jesus' 3-year ministry, when it tells us that Jesus demonstrated his compassion and love everyday. He didn't tell the blind man, "I love you", he healed him. Or the woman with a blood issue, "I love you", he healed her. I believe that Jesus did not do miracles merely to show his power but more to show his love. I can't help but quote St. Francis of Assissi who said, "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

Come and move us Lord, let us become less so that you may become more. Break us of ourselves and let us serve the least of these, your brothers, let us serve you. Help us Lord.