Word to the Wise
Monday, February 15, 2016 - 1st Week of Lent - Mon
[Lev 19:1-2, 11-18 and Matt 25:31-46,298]MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2016 MONDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT [Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 and Matthew 25:31-46] Then the righteous will answer him and say, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you I'll or in prison, and visit you?" And the king will say to them in reply, "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." This is a familiar and probably uncomfortable scene from Jesus' teachings. Perhaps we have had the good fortune to visit the Sistine Chapel to see Michelangelo's portrayal of this on the back wall behind the altar. Or perhaps we saw a copy of it in a book. A condemned person stands in the center with a horrified look on his face. That look may speak of the missed opportunities to show mercy to the least of Jesus' brothers and sisters. The question of the righteous begins with five significant words: "When did we see you...." The hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the imprisoned, the sick, the stranger - these least brothers and sisters may be invisible to us unless we make the effort to "see" them. Our lack of awareness will not excuse us in the end. The traditional "Corporal Works of Mercy" are based on this scene. They tell us what to look for if this scene is not enough. There are also the Spiritual Works of Mercy. Pope Francis calls some of these "the apostolate of the ear." But we must see first. Lent challenges us to to take the word of God and see with it. AMEN
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