Moving back to the gospel of Matthew (25:31-46), we hear Jesus speaking of His Second Coming and the judgment that will occur at that time.  Separating the righteous from the unrighteous, as sheep from goats, the souls who cared for others will find that they were also caring for Christ, and will have eternal life.  Those who had no interest in helping others are destined for eternal punishment.  Taking care of the physical needs of the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, ill, and prisoner is absolutely required.  Charitable donations of a financial kind, as well as time and talents, as possible based on one’s state in life, are necessary.  But let us not neglect the spiritual dimension of the Lord’s command.  What of those who hunger and thirst for companionship, or just a friendly ear to listen to them?  Or those who, possibly unknowingly, are craving for the Word and parched for the Spirit — how can we be a conduit for these gifts?  Share the faith, by your life and your witness.  How about the stranger to town, or to your neighborhood, or to your church?  Let them not feel a stranger one moment longer; rather make them a friend.  And those spiritually ill from, or a prisoner to, sinful ways or addictions — how can we be the helping hand or support to those enslaved in such a manner?  Always respond in love, but never couch the truth, compromise on sin, or enable bad behavior.  We must consider every person we meet, friend or foe, acquaintance or stranger, another Christ.  And if it is difficult to see Jesus in a certain person, it was also hard to see Him in His bloody and disfigured state on the way to Calvary.  That’s what sin does.  Like the pious story of Veronica, we are called to help wipe away sin and that which sin causes, so that the face of Christ will shine through.