Serving with Love

Read Matthew 25:31-40

"Then I, the King, shall say to those on my right, 'Come, blessed of my Father,into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed me, sick and in prison, and you visited me.'

"Then these righteous will reply, 'Sir, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?'

"And I, the King, will tell them, 'When you did it to these my brothers you were doing it to me!' "

Matthew 25: 34-40 (TLB)

Mariela del Carmen Mustielier Fonseca lives in Cuba. For several years, she has led a prayer group for mothers in her home. They meet in the morning, Monday through Friday. One day, a friend asked Mariela to accompany her to an early-morning medical appointment. Mariela truly wanted to go with her, but at the same time there were other considerations: the great distance to the hospital by public transportation and the relatively slow walking pace because of her need for a walker. Would there be enough time to get her to the appointment and still make it back in time for her prayer group meeting?

Mariela desire to assist her proved far more important than any inconvenience. She asked the Lord to favor them with two gifts - wise planning and good transportation. They left quite early, their ride was on time, and she made it through her appointment successfully. Then Mariela accompanied her home and arrived on time for the start of the prayer group.

That day, Mariela was grateful that with God's help she was able to perform two works of love that pleased the Lord.

Prayer: God in heaven, create in us a willing spirit and a compassionate heart to serve our neighbors with love - the same love with which you care for us, in Jesus' name. Amen.