We live in a world where everything is judged or measured from the “big side”: how rich you are, and how many followers you have? How much money you have in the bank? How many estates you have? How many laurels or certificates you have? How many ‘big people’ you know? How beautiful you are, how much influence you can make, and the list goes on! This judgement is used as the yardstick for success and of acceptance. But we may ask: what is true judgment of success and acceptance? Do I need to be on the “big side” before I am/feel successful or accepted? If these worry you, then read slowly…
Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats…‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was HUNGRY and you gave me food; I was THIRSTY and you gave me drink; I was a STRANGER and you made me welcome; NAKED and you clothed me, SICK and you visited me, IN PRISON and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink?… And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Child of God the first thing that catches your attention is this: The King and Master of the universe, who owns all there is in the world: both small and great does not judge by measuring great things- very “big things” that border us, but is concerned about the very least things- things we wouldn’t even imagine: hunger, thirst, nakedness (defenceless), stranger (refugees), Sickness, the prisoner!
2. Today the Word of God calls you to look again at the 7 Corporal works of mercy and its complement, the 7 Spiritual works of mercy as taught by the church, for on these testaments we find the tools of evaluation of Success and Acceptance! It is these “little things” done to the “least people” that make us successful and accepted. According to The Catechism of the Catholic Church, (n. 2447), the works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities (cf. Isa.58:6-7; Heb. 13:3).
The Seven Corporal works are as follows: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and bury the dead. Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God (Matthew 6:2-4).The Corporal Works of Mercy are oriented toward the body. Six of the seven are mentioned in the gospel you read above- although not precisely- as the reason for the salvation of the saved, while Matthew 25:41-46 exhorts the omission of them as the reason for damnation. As deprivation of burial was viewed with horror by the Jews, the seventh Corporal Work of Mercy (Tobit 1:17-19) was later added by the church.
The Seven Spiritual works are as follows: Admonish the sinner, Instruct the ignorant, Counsel the doubtful, Bear wrongs patiently, Forgive offences willingly, Comfort the afflicted, Pray for the living and the dead.
The Spiritual Works of Mercy are oriented towards the soul. Though ideally applicable for all faithful, not everyone is considered capable or obligated to perform the first three Spiritual Works of Mercy before they possess the proper tact, knowledge or canonical training to do so. However, the remaining four Spiritual Works of Mercy are considered to be an obligation of all faithful to practice unconditionally.
TASK: Child of God the Lord calls you today to disabuse your mind from the wiles and standards of the world. Resist every cravings to mutilate yourself, draw tattoos, etc just for the sake of body enhancements or looking good. Know it that it is present day “big side” trap set to entrap you! Use that money for charity and enhance yourself physically and spiritually before the Lord. Pray now Psalm 23
▪︎Fr. SimOne Madu, OSJ
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Thank you padre. May God keep on protecting and strengthening you, amen. Happy feast of Christ the King.
Thanks dear for reading through. GOD bless you. Please share