“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40
“What more could Christ declare unto us? How more could He stimulate the works of our righteousness and mercy, than by saying that whatever is given to the needy and poor is given to Himself, and by saying that He is aggrieved unless the needy and poor be supplied? So that he who in the Church is not moved by consideration for his brother, may yet be moved by contemplation of Christ; and he who does not think of his fellow-servant in suffering and in poverty, may yet think of his Lord, who abideth in that very man whom he is despising.”
Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) in his Treatise 8. On Works and Alms, 23.
Cyprian asks good questions when he says, “What more could Christ declare unto us? How more could He stimulate the works of our righteousness and mercy, than by saying that whatever is given to the needy and poor is given to Himself, and by saying that He is aggrieved unless the needy and poor be supplied?”
Jesus wants to stimulate us to action in service to those in need by telling us that what we do for them we do for Him. It’s true, He could not say anything stronger than that.
Today marks Ash Wednesday. It’s the start of Lent. Download Lent Companion here. It’s the season we focus on giving, prayer, and fasting. Journey with GTP through Lent here.
And the lesson for Opening Day is this. To stimulate your giving this Lent, remember that you are giving not to the poor or charities but to Christ. Don’t give your last and worst but your first and best to Him.