“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
“Works of mercy, as well as the relief they give to those in need, serve to improve our own souls and those of the people who accompany us in those activities. We have all experienced that contact with the sick, with the poor, with children andwith adults who go hungry, always means for us a meeting with Christ in His weaker or unprotected members, and for that very reason such contact can mean a spiritual enrichment.”
Álvaro del Portillo (1914-1994) in his letter dated 31 May 1987.
Works of mercy appear as acts for those who either don’t deserve it or cannot repay it. In the words of Jesus, in today’s Scripture, whatever we do for such people, He considers them done for Him.
As we start another week, let’s focus our giving on those who either don’t deserve it or cannot repay it. This runs contrary to patterns in my own American culture which tell me to give to the things I care about.
That’s what our culture defines as generosity. Of such behavior, Jesus said these words.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.” Luke 6:32-33
So he elaborates and gives us this instruction, which is echoed in today’s post.
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35
This kind of merciful generosity can anticipate reward. We can count on spiritual enrichment when our giving reflects the kind of giving that moves beyond the giving of sinners and reflects the giving of our God Most High.