As Dickens wrote in A Christmas Carol, this is that time of year "when abundance rejoices and wont is most keenly felt."

Most of us, as Christians, understand the Lord's words in Matthew 25 to be a charge to help those who are in need, especially those "in need of the most common necessaries." We are pretty good about that, most of us. At Christmas many of our churches have methods and procedures for buying toys for children and being sure that no one is left out; many of us give to the Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army red kettles, any number of charitable organizations helping folks. But what do we do, day in and day out, about those "common necessaries?"

Our Lord loved the poor. He understood them: the fear a father has when he has no food to give to his children; when he is out of work; when he is desperate and afraid. The fear a mother has when the house note in 60, 90, 120 days behind, and the gas and electricity have been turned off. That is when we, as Christians, need to step up, either through our churches or through individual initiative. Sometinmes all it takes is a kind word and a helping hand. Perhaps you, like I have done in the past, turn away from the old, the sick, and the ill. Well, let us all resolve, starting now, to follow Our Lord's directive and feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those in prison!
I believe in an active Christian life. There are those who are devoted to the Lord but who rarely follow this dictum. Do as Christ said, and LOVE your brother as yourself. If we do what we say we do, we can set the world ablaze with Christ!