“My daughter, in this meditation, consider the love of neighbour. Is your love for your neighbour guided by My love? Do you pray for your enemies? Do you wish well to those who have, in one way or another, caused you sorrow or offended you? Know that whatever good you do to any soul, I accept it as if you had done it to Me”. Divine Mercy in my soul # 1768
It comes naturally to most to serve their family. The parent gives their life for their children. When mom calls her son to help with some work around the house, he jumps into action to assist. Husband and wife surrender their individual desires to live for the other in the Sacramental Marriage. It is much easier to serve our family and those closest to us. Most times we don’t even think of the tasks as ‘formal’ serving.
“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.’” Matthew 25:40
When it comes to those outside our household, those across the street or the desk, it becomes more like work, right? It’s easy to think about writing a check to do something for a child in Africa but, when it comes to actual action, it becomes a task to check off.
It is easy to walk by the homeless person on the street and not notice them. We find ourselves turning our glance at a strategic time so as to not make eye contact. It isn’t that difficult even to drop a few coins or a dollar bill in the hand. But, have you ever stopped to talk to him?
I was confronted by this challenge a few years ago in our men’s group. “Don’t walk by, stop and talk.” Monday morning, on the walk from Mass to my office, o saw a homeless man and these words fell upon me like a blade. I decided to stop and talk to him. He said he was hungry and asked for money to get something to eat. I knew in my heart that I needed to do even more then a quick conversation, so I invited him to the McDonalds on the corner to have breakfast together.
I had to argue with the manager a bit to allow him in with me, then with our food in front of us, Michael bowed his head, made the sign of the cross and said grace and thanks for this “gift.”
I won’t go into the conversation but his story still moves me to this day, nearly 10 years later. The time we spent together that morning was short but impactful. That morning, we changed a life – mine.
Do you step out of the comfort zone to serve? Are you like Mother Theresa out picking the sock off the street or just stopping to pray with some stranger in need? It doesn’t matter what you do, just do.