The Least of These

While on vacation in New York, a French tourist named Karine Valnais Gombeau was deeply moved by the number of homeless people she saw. When she noticed a disheveled-looking man searching through the trash near Grand Central Station, she quickly offered him a bag of leftover pizza she was carrying.

When the surprised man asked what was in the bag, Gombeau replied, "Je suis désolée [I am sorry, but the pizza is cold]." The man thanked her, and she went on her way.

It was two days later that Gombeau learned she had given pizza to actor Richard Gere, who was filming a movie on location in New York City.

The story reminds me of a story that Jesus told in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus described what it will be like when people stand before the throne to answer for what they have done. To the righteous, he will say,

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me (Matthew 25:35-36).

When they protest that they have never seen him in those conditions, Jesus will tell them,

I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40).

In the same way, he will speak of being neglected by others and will tell them:

I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me (Matthew 25:45).

You will probably never get the chance to give pizza to a famous actor. But you can reach out and help Jesus today. You can serve the hungry, the thirsty, the lonely, the naked, or the prisoner. You can help "the least of these" and really be doing it for Jesus.

To those who show compassion to the people around them, Jesus will one day say:

Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world (Matthew 25:34).

Those are words I want to hear. I want you to hear them too. Let's talk about how we can help others. Join us on the HopeForLife.org website or write to me at tarcher@heraldoftruth.org.