You did for me (Sabong News)
Author
Manila Bulletin
Date
MARCH 07 2022
The criterion for the last judgment is hospitality. Among the Jews, steadfast love is given to family members while hospitality is extended to strangers. The “sheep” are blessed because they showed hospitality to strangers: the hungry and thirsty, the outsiders, the naked, and the imprisoned. The “goats” are condemned because they neglected the opportunity to attend to them. Finally, the reason for this hospitality is none other than Christ the King who in this world does not appear in his regality but in the person of “strangers” who need our welcome.
At the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, Pope Francis pointed to those who generously offered their service and even their very lives to attend to those afflicted. He said, “Look at the real heroes who come to light in these days: they are not famous, rich and successful people; rather, they are those who are giving themselves in order to serve others. Feel called yourselves to put your lives on the line. Do not be afraid to devote your life to God and to others; it pays! For life is a gift we receive only when we give ourselves away, and our deepest joy comes from saying yes to love, without ifs and buts. To truly say yes to love, without ifs and buts. As Jesus did for us.”
Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ 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 ill 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 of mine, you did for me.’… And these will go off… to eternal life.”
SOURCE:
ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail:
; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
