WHATEVER YOU DID UNTO ONE OF THE LEAST, YOU DID UNTO ME

On the last day, Jesus will say to those on His right hand, “Come, enter the Kingdom.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was sick and you visited me.”  Then Jesus will turn to those on His left hand and say, “Depart from me because I was hungry and you did not feed me, I was thirsty and you did not give me to drink, I was sick and you did not visit me.”  These will ask Him, “When did we see You hungry, or thirsty or sick and did not come to Your help?”  And Jesus will answer them, “Whatever you neglected to do unto one of these least of these, you neglected to do unto Me!”
As we have gathered here to pray together, I think it will be beautiful if we begin with a prayer that expresses very well what Jesus wants us to do for the least.  St. Francis of Assisi understood very well these words of Jesus and His life is very well expressed by a prayer.  And this prayer, which we say every day after Holy Communion, always surprises me very much, because it is very fitting for each one of us.  And I always wonder whether 800 years ago when St. Francis lived, they had the same difficulties that we have today.  I think that some of you already have this prayer of peace-so we will pray it together.

 Bl. Teresa of Calcutta...

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen