Monday after First Sunday in Lent, Feb.26, 2007 . Lectionary 225

Leviticus 19:1-2,11-18. Psalm 19:8-10, 15. Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus is always concerned about the little ones who are mentioned in the
Gospel of Matthew. This refers especially to children, but also to the
humble folk that he is in touch with during his ministry in Galilee.
Matthew records the most about them and I liken them to the Hebrew concept
of who they are--the Poor ones of Yahweh, the 'Anawim. They are often
celebrated in the Psalms and "of such is the kingdom of God." One Psalm
that expresses their spirituality so well is Psalm 131, one of the shortes
of Psalms:
Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; Neither do I
exercise myself in things too great, or in things too wonderful for
me. Surely, I have stilled and quieted my soul; Like a weaned
child withhis mother, My soul is with me like a weaned child. O Israel,
hope in the Lord Fron this time forth and forever.

Jesus encourages us who are his disciples to think like that but also to be
concerned about the little ones, that is those who are not esteemed, who
have no importance, influence, or power. We are to perform what the Church
has taken from the New Testament and spells out as the corporal and
spiritual works of mercy. Beautiful practices for Lent. Even if we perform
one of them during Lent, it will be a great Lenten act. The Catholic
Catechism offers us the following under the theme of "works of mercy":
"The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of
our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing,
advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are
forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal works of mercy
consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing
the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead. Among
all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to
fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God." (2447
CCC).

These little ones are mentioned six times in Matthew or one fifth of the
times the word is used in the New Testament. These are the ones who have
only God to depend upon and we discover them in the outcry of the Psalms
that are called lamentations as well as in Psalms that are penitential like
Psalm 51 or 130. These Psalms are also a good help for our prayer during
Lent. We are called to become like little children when it comes to the
things of God. We are to be aware of the summons to help these little ones
especially the homeless, the poor, the abused, and the marginal. There are
many ways in which we can reach out to them and do something for them--
advising them, serving in soup kitchens, volunteering for a charitable
organization, smiling when we go past them and greeting them. Only by
opening our hearts to them will we truly be listening and understanding
what Jesus is telling us today in the Gospel. Amen.