Act of giving
Around a week ago I received a beautiful whatsApp gift. When I looked at it it was a quote from the Diary of St Faustina which said: Love does not consist in words or feelings, but in deeds. It is an act of will, a gift, in other words an act of giving (Diary 392).
Deeds define love and love encourages for deeds to be done. It is on love as shown in deeds that we shall be judged in the end of our lives. Our eternal destiny will greatly depend on the way we have behaved with Jesus in our neighbor. I simply let Jesus teach us this very important eternal lesson by his own words.
Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of 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, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’
Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt 25:34-46).
Lord Jesus help me to love you in the needy ones. Help me to serve you in these least of your brothers and sisters by my loving actions. Make of my life an act of giving to you and to your children for your sake and glory. Amen.
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap
