I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. ~ Matthew 25:35b–36a (CEB)
Lord, you have a close relationship with poor people. It is so close that if we want to have a relationship with you, we also have to be serving the poor. For in serving them, we are serving you. Sometimes these people deserve to be poor. But that does not matter to you. You still welcome them. I confess that this is a hard thing to accept. It is embarrassing and tiring to be around poor people. There seems to be no end to their neediness. Please grant me energy to keep up the care and the wisdom to administer it well. Amen.
