...So it is with our faith in God. He waits until we need it to give it to us. But when we need it, do not fear. He will supply all that you need—especially, your need to have faith.

Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15
Matthew 25:31-46
(31) "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. (32) Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, (33) and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.  (34) 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; (35) 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, (36) I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' (37) Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or  thirsty and give thee drink? (38) And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? (39) And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' (40) 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.'  (41) 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; (42) for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, (43) 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.' (44) 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?' (45) 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.' (46) And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Meditation by Jeanne Schuler (Creighton)
The Least among Us

This much we knew.  That God finds us in solitude, sacraments, the beauty of nature, old friends, the support of family, when cynicism gives way to solidarity and action.  Familiar or drab surroundings can break into color.  An ordinary day can yield awareness and gratitude.  I step out the door and realize that I’m alive and how much it matters to be here.
 
We find our balance but never touch bottom.  Seeking what is real or true takes us deeper.  There is more to our lives than what we knew.  In today’s gospel,

the righteous inherit the kingdom but still wonder where to find God.  Generous and faithful, they are present to the least among us.  Moving beyond duty,  they enter into the lives of those who are forgotten.  They touch flesh and hear stories and share what they have.  Broken lives do not scare them.  Like an ancient spring, they do not run dry.  That God was present all along amazes them.

Scripture is blunt: you will find me among the poor.  It is hard to give those words a respectable meaning.  God was not supposed to dwell in crumpled places.  We never dreamed that the sacred would accompany raw need.  Besides, the messy works of mercy were not assigned to me. Into the careful composition of our lives arise the most unexpected forms of beauty.

Supplementary Reading
Fearless Faith

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God  – Matthew 5:8

Corrie Ten Boom, the founder of a powerful ministry, was the sole survivor of a Protestant Dutch family that had been incarcerated in concentration camps for hiding Jews in their home. During many lectures, Corrie would share a precious childhood memory of her father responding to her fear that she didn't have enough faith. He asked, "Corrie, when we take a trip on the train, do I give you the ticket a year, a month, even a day before you need it?"

"No, Papa…because I might lose it?"

"No, it's because you don't need it then. I wait until you need it."

So it is with our faith in God. He waits until we need it to give it to us. But when we need it, do not fear. He will supply all that you need—especially

your need to have faith.

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Where in your life do you need faith today? Trust God to provide all of it you need at just the time you need it.
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