MONDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2024
MONDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT YEAR B
Leviticus 19:1-2,11-18
Matthew 25:31-46
SERVING JESUS IN OTHERS
Jesus associated himself with the poor, the imprisoned, the naked, the hungry and the thirsty. In such wise, he states that any help offered to anyone in these state is invariably offered to him. Meaning that compassion, love and kindness shown to the hungry by providing food, giving water to the thirsty, visiting the prisoners or the sick are all services rendered to Jesus himself.
These sets of people represent the weakest in our human society. And these are the suffering ones who need compassion and love. By showing them compassion and love, we are serving the Lord who created them and kept them in the world.
In this Lenten season, let us turn our gaze to the downtrodden in our society, and see the face of Jesus in their situation. Here is God worshipped, Jesus lifted up, salvation offered to them and humanity rescued from the dungeon of decay. Lives are elevated, valued and esteemed.
We must them turn our gaze towards these people at the lower level of life and attend to them. The first reading talks of same people and how they must be treated. They must be helped, salvaged and honored. God never expects us to overlook their situations and conditions of these people but service done to them is a mark of the recognition of the spirit of God within us which touched on our consciences and pricks our heart of love to attend to them.
In this Lenten season, our focus must be to alleviate the sufferings of others. Physically serving them, listening to them, helping them actualize their life mission, always and willing to attend and to help. And these people are everywhere in our society. In our parish setting, near our homes, in our places of work, in the many situations we stumble upon them.
Giving to the poorest of the poor is not a one time affair. It should be a life long action, sustained and followed up. So such acts of love should never be a show off, a means of identifying with them in the midst of people like politicians seeking to be seen and recognized as showing compassion, because of the intentions to be voted for during election. But it must be for the sake of helping, of loving and serving God in secret and in spirit. No other intentions must be imputed into it. Our intentions must be pure and simple.
God our father, you always come to us as poor, dejected, harassed especially in the sick, hungry and poor. May we recognize you in those who genuinely need our help, love and compassion. And as we offer you our helping hand, may we be blessed, refilled and graced to do more and grow in the act of loving you more each day through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
