Gospel of Luke : 6 – 45
Fr. Mike Casale, an Episcopal priest, is a close friend of mine. His work among the poor and prisoners is exemplary. I got to know Mike when he stayed with me in Okeechobee when we worked together on several retreats at the maximum security prison. Mike has also dedicated much of his life to working with “Food for the Poor” in various countries worldwide. Following is Mike’s take on the call of all Christians to reach out and help our brothers and sisters in need.
Fr. Hugh Duffy
As an Episcopal priest of fifty two years, I feel specially blessed to be able to serve for many years the destitute of the world in seventeen nations, and to work with priests, religious, and missionaries who give their lives in service to them.
The face of our Lord is seen in various ways. When two or three gather in his name, when they receive the blessed sacrament of his body and blood, when they share in the proclamation of the Word, He is right there amongst them. But He also assures us that we meet him most powerfully in the destitute and broken in our world.
“I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me…” St. Matt. 25:36 ff.
Our Lord’s focus is on this world in which we live here and now. He prays, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. His emphasis is on this earth. Heaven above is doing quite well, thank you very much. It is on this earth that we serve Him in preparation for eternity. A religion that is totally other worldly is of no earthly good. I want a religion that touches life now.
The kingdom of heaven proclaimed in all of Jesus’ parables is not so much “pie in the sky when we die bye and bye” but a world in which we bend our efforts to making our earth a place suitable for human habitation, where the lion and the lamb can dwell together, and where all of us are fed and are full at the supper of the lamb. This is the kingdom of heaven already begun.
Just like Jesus, you and I are committed to serve the poor. Indeed it is our Lord’s primary focus and, as such, it must be ours as well. Even the rich young ruler was told to sell what he had and give it away to the poor.
St James says, “Faith without works is dead”. That is, we need “less talkie talkie and more doie doie.” Let us put our lives on the line for our Lord by serving him in the poor, in our parishes, and in the lives of the individuals we meet every day.
In the acts of serving one another, we shall be as close as we can get to the heart of Christ.
Fr. Mike Cassell
4 Comments
Richard Grigonis
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”
― John Bunyan
Hugh Duffy
Good quote.
Larry Frey
Charity opened my eyes! In Matthew, 25, it’s the 7 works of mercy! I feel that if I am , saved, disciplined, Christ like, people would see what God has done for me through his mercy, to show mercy, not as a reward, but as God’s forgiveness and by following the two greatest commandments, love God, love neighbor, then” thy kingdom come, thy will be done!! Sight! Would lead people to salvation!
Hugh Duffy
That’s it Larry. We do What the Lord says in Matthew 25 to give God the glory, not to boast. Thanks for sharing.