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“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God remain in him?”

- 1 John 3:17

Read through the Scriptures with the lens of how Jesus cared for the poor. In imitation of Him, we also are called to serve and care for those in need. Recall what Christ said in Matthew’s gospel: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me…. just as you did it to one of the least brothers of mine, you did it to me.” (Mt. 25:35-36, 45)

Consider these excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1. “It is by what they have done for the poor that Jesus Christ will recognize his chosen ones.” CCC 2443

2. “Love for the poor is even one of the motives for the duty of working so as to ‘be able to give to those in need.’” CCC 2444

3. “Love for the poor is incompatible with immoderate love of riches or their selfish use.” CCC 2445

4. “Those who are oppressed by poverty are the object of a preferential love on the part of the Church…” CCC 2448

5. ‘[Jesus] invites us to recognize his own presence in the poor who are his brethren.” CCC 2449

This last excerpt has rung quite true in our own experiences. Oftentimes, one of the greatest unexpected gifts of serving the poor is having a genuine encounter with Jesus Himself through them.

Mother Teresa explained this when she said, “Whenever I meet someone in need, it’s really Jesus in His most distressing disguise. It’s Him I help - Him alone.”

Let us live out the “Gospel on Five Fingers:” You - did - it - to - Me.