The title is an active reminder and challenge to action, to get out of one’s
comfort zone and do the hard work of helping one’s needy neighbor, following
the example of the Good Samaritan, of whom Jesus said, “Go and Do the Same”
(Lk. 10:37). Go and Do the Works of Mercy now, as St. Mother Teresa did when
she saw a dying person abandoned in the streets of Calcutta. Go and Be a
true disciple, witnessing to the total surrender of the King of Mercy on the
Cross, alert to share one’s time-talent-treasure to be a prophet and servant to
restore the Kingdom Values to a rabidly secularized world.
We cannot rest contented and secure that the heavenly glory is ours if we close our hearts to the suffering of our brothers and sisters. The verdict will come at the Last Judgment before the King who will say to those on His right: “Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink…sick and you visited me….Truly, I say to you: whenever you did this to these little ones who are my brothers and sisters, you did it to me” (Mt. 25:34-40).
Working for good and living a witnessing life is what contributes to one’s growth as a human being. Even a listening ear to one in crisis in the family or community will help dispel the inner fears and pains, and restore the confidence within the person’s aggrieved heart. For a Christian, constant prayer and discernment are needed to nourish the baptismal commitment to Jesus who came to be born as man to redeem and form humanity into the Father’s divine family. With child-like trust in the providence of God, we let go of our anxieties and follow the Father’s will for us. We bring to prayer the concerns and realities we encounter, reading and discerning God’s word and message in our dialogue with people and events of various socio-cultural contexts. “You will reveal the path of life to me, and at your right hand everlasting pleasures” (Ps. 16:11).
We cannot rest contented and secure that the heavenly glory is ours if we close our hearts to the suffering of our brothers and sisters. The verdict will come at the Last Judgment before the King who will say to those on His right: “Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink…sick and you visited me….Truly, I say to you: whenever you did this to these little ones who are my brothers and sisters, you did it to me” (Mt. 25:34-40).
Working for good and living a witnessing life is what contributes to one’s growth as a human being. Even a listening ear to one in crisis in the family or community will help dispel the inner fears and pains, and restore the confidence within the person’s aggrieved heart. For a Christian, constant prayer and discernment are needed to nourish the baptismal commitment to Jesus who came to be born as man to redeem and form humanity into the Father’s divine family. With child-like trust in the providence of God, we let go of our anxieties and follow the Father’s will for us. We bring to prayer the concerns and realities we encounter, reading and discerning God’s word and message in our dialogue with people and events of various socio-cultural contexts. “You will reveal the path of life to me, and at your right hand everlasting pleasures” (Ps. 16:11).
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