Day 318: Love for the Poor

God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them: "Give to him who begs from you, do not refuse him who would borrow from you" [Mt 5:42]; "you received without pay, give without pay [Mt 10:8]." It is by what they have done for the poor that Jesus Christ will recognize his chosen ones [Mt 25:31-36]. When "the poor have the good news preached to them," it is the sign of Christ's presence [Mt 11:4-5]. CCC 2443

In today's reading, the Catechism explores a common theme from Scripture: God's love for the poor. This love is so great that "for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich" (2 Cor 8:9). We are called to be like Christ and also love the poor and care for them, not out of mere duty, but with genuine faith and union with Him (Lk 14:12-14). I like how the CCC 2449 quotes St. Rose of Lima responding to a reproach for her caring for the poor and sick:

"When we serve the poor and the sick, we serve Jesus. We must not fail to help our neighbors, because in them we serve Jesus."

The Catechism Compendium summarizes how love for the poor is inspired:

Love for the poor is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes and by the example of Jesus in his constant concern for the poor. Jesus said, “Whatever you have done to the least of my brethren, you have done to me” (Mt 25:40). Love for the poor shows itself through the struggle against material poverty and also against the many forms of cultural, moral, and religious poverty. The spiritual and corporal works of mercy and the many charitable institutions formed throughout the centuries are a concrete witness to the preferential love for the poor which characterizes the disciples of Jesus. (#520) 

The Church's love for the poor derives from and is modeled after Christ's own love for the poor. Pictured here is a sister of the Missionaries of Charity caring for a person in need. (Catechism Companion, Vol III, p. 153)