“And the King will answer them, `Believe me, when you did it to one of the least of my brethren here, you did it to me.’

“Then He will say to those who are on His left hand, in their turn, `Go far from me, you that are cursed, into that eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food. I was thirsty and you never gave me drink. I was a stranger and you did not bring me home. I was naked and you did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you did not care for me.’

“Whereupon they, in their turn, will answer, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not minister to you?

“And He will answer them, `Believe me, when you refused it to one of the least of my brethren here, you refused it to me.’ And these shall pass on to eternal punishment, and the just to eternal life” (Matthew 25, 31-49).

These words can at first be surprising because of the importance Christ puts on simple acts of kindness. But a little thought shows that the division between those who are saved and those who are lost is really the division between those who think only of self and worship self and those who forget self and love their fellowman and God in him.

A piece of bread or the welcome given to a stranger are small and simple things, but they can measure the success or failure of a whole life, for they are the measure of selfishness or unselfishness.

THE RICH YOUNG MAN

The struggle with self can be bitter indeed. Self dies slowly. And unless I can overcome it, it can ruin my life. It can stop me from following the one path that leads me to the Father.

One of the saddest pages in the Gospel story tells of a rich young man who felt himself called to a higher life but did not have the courage to give up everything in order to follow Christ. The self in him prevailed over Christ’s invitation.

This man asked Christ, “Master, You who are so good, what must I do to win eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? None is good except God only. You know the commandments: You shall do no murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honour your father and mother.” “I have kept these,” he said, “ever since I grew up.”

“When He heard that, Jesus said, `In one thing you are still lacking; sell all that belongs to you give to the poor, so the treasure you have shall be in heaven; then come back and follow Me.’

“The answer filled him with sadness, for he was very rich; and Jesus seeing his sad look, said, `With what difficulty will those who have riches enter God’s kingdom!” (Luke 18, 18-24)

PEARL OF GREAT VALUE