It is frankly terrifying to read Jesus’ description of the final judgment in the Gospel of Matthew and to think how many times I have failed to act with mercy toward “the least of these.”
But St. Augustine puts a beautiful spin on it: “Do not grieve or complain that you were born in a time when you can no longer see God in the flesh. He did not in fact take this privilege from you. As he says: Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you did to me.”
When we encounter a person in need, we encounter Jesus Christ — God in the flesh. To show him love is not an onerous duty but an incredible honor.
I’m keeping this in mind as the Church celebrates the World Day of Migrants and Refugees this month. It’s too easy these days to see immigration as merely a partisan political “issue.”
Let us pray we never hear the Son of Man say, “I was a stranger and you gave me no welcome.”