Sunday, January 28 : Saint Caesarius of Arles

If we consider it well, my brethren, the fact that Christ is hungry in those who are poor has something to say to us… Look: on one side a tiny coin and on the other, the Kingdom. What is the comparison? You give a small coin to a poor man and receive the Kingdom from Christ; you give a scrap of bread and receive eternal life from Christ; you give an item of clothing and receive forgiveness for your sins from Christ. So let us not despise the poor but rather seek them out and make haste to present ourselves before them because the wretchedness of the poor is medicine to the rich, as our Lord himself said: “Give alms of what you have and everything will be clean for you” and again: “Sell your possessions and give alms” (Lk 11,41; 12,33). And the Holy Spirit calls out to us through the prophet: “Water quenches a flaming fire and alms atone for sins” (Sir 3,29)…. And so, my brethren, do works of mercy and, with Christ’s help, let us hold fast to the bond of his warranty, especially to what I reminded you of when he said: “Give and gifts will be given to you” (Lk 6,38) and again: “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy” (Mt 5,7). Let each one of you, according to his means, try not to come to church empty handed: for anyone who hopes to receive must offer something. Let those who are able clothe the poor man with a new garment; let those who are unable at least offer him an old one. As for those who do not feel themselves to be sufficiently well off for that, let them offer a scrap of bread, let them welcome a traveller, prepare him a bed and wash his feet so that they may be worthy to hear Christ saying to them: “Come, you who are blessed, take possession of the Kingdom; for I was hungry and you gave me food, a stranger and you welcomed me.”
maronite readings – rosary,team