Word to the Wise
Monday, February 19, 2018 - 1st Week of Lent - Mon
[Lev 19:1-2, 11-18 and Matt 25:31-46]MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2018. MONDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT [Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 and Matthew 25:31-45] "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." [Matthew] The gospel scripture for today is vividly portrayed in the Sistine Chapel in Rome on the wall behind the altar. Michelangelo captured the dramatic quality in an awesome way. Most vivid is the naked soul in the middle who realizes that he is doomed. He has failed the test of caring for the least of the brothers and sisters of Jesus. I know that when I read this gospel passage, I feel a little uneasy about what I do for those whom Jesus considers his least ones. Jesus does not ask the impossible of us. He does ask for a very challenging possible. The Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) and today's gospel scripture lay out a program of holiness, just as Leviticus did in the Old Testament scripture for today. We can read Jesus' words and ask ourselves honestly what is "possible" for us. It is all too easy to dismiss what is possible on the grounds of "inconvenience" or other life-style standards. A Lent in which we discover our challenging "possible" and take steps to put skin on it for the least brothers and sisters of Jesus will mean that we will bear fruit not just in Lent but year round. AMEN