Jesus’ solidarity with the “the least of these” plants him among the prophets (Matthew 25: 40). Jeremiah and Isaiah say the measure of a society is how it treats its least powerful. Jesus entered into commonality with the poor, oppressed and suffering.
Do we allow our culture to define what is right and wrong? Do we allow scripture to define it? Do we just do whatever seems right to us at the time?
Many of us live in a society drowning in shallow judgments based on a people’s appearance, vocabulary, dialect, education, fashion, sexual preference, ethnic group. We even judge ourselves based on how well we think we measure up to such standards. We must realize the balance between grace and truth when judging.
Psychologists advise us that generosity provides numerous benefits, not only for others, but for ourselves. Generosity also includes kindness, hospitality and service to others; acts that everyone has the resources to provide.