The importance of the welcoming others is brought out by Pope Francis' going back to Scripture. In #102 Jesus tells us that in welcoming the stranger we welcome him (cf. Mat 25:35) and in the Old Testament, "You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you yourselves were strangers in the land of Egypt." (Ex 22:21) and so on. He assures us that "this is not a notion invented by some Pope, or a momentary fad. In today's world too, we are called to follow the path of spiritual wisdom proposed by the prophet Isaiah to show what is pleasing to God. "Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from our own kin? Then your light shall break froth like the dawn" (58:7-8).
The Pope tells us that the ultimate criterion on which our lives will be judged is what we have done for others. Then he adds in #104 Prayer is most precious, for it nourishes a daily commitment to love. Our worship becomes pleasing to 'God when we devote ourselves to living generously, and allow God's gift, granted in prayer, to be shown in our concern for our brother and sisters."
There is much to reflect on here and to make that daily examination of conscience in dialogue with the Lord. And we have much to be grateful for each day, too.
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