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| St. John of God with the poor |
St. John of God
From
a letter by Saint John of God, religious
Christ
is faithful and provides all things
If
we look forward to receiving God’s mercy, we can never fail to do good so long
as we have the strength. For if we share
with the poor, out of love for God, whatever he has given to us, we shall
receive according to his promise a hundredfold in eternal happiness. What a fine profit, what a blessed
reward! Who would not entrust his
possessions to this best of merchants, who handles our affairs so well? With outstretched arms he begs us to turn
toward him, to weep for our sins, and to become the servants of love, first for
ourselves, then for our neighbors. Just
as water extinguishes a fire, so love wipes away sin.
So
many poor people come here that I very often wonder how we can care for them
all, but Jesus Christ provides all things and nourishes everyone. Many of them came to the house of God,
because the city of Granada is large and very cold, especially now in
winter. More than a hundred and ten are
now living here, sick and healthy, servants and pilgrims. Since this house is open to everyone, it
receives the sick of every type and condition:
the crippled, the disabled, lepers, mutes, the insane, paralytics, those
suffering scurvy and those bearing the afflictions of old age, many children,
and above all countless pilgrims and travelers, who come here, and for whom we
furnish the fire, water, and salt, as well as utensils to cook their food. And for all of this no payment is requested,
yet Christ provides.
I
work here on borrowed money, a prisoner for the sake of Jesus Christ. And often my debts are so pressing that I
dare not go out of the house for fear of being seized by my creditors. Whenever I see so many poor brothers and
neighbors of mine suffering beyond their strength and overwhelmed with so many
physical or mental ills which I cannot alleviate, then I become exceedingly
sorrowful; but I trust in Christ, who know s my heart. And so I say:
“Woe to the man who trusts in men
rather than in Christ.” Whether you
like it or not, you will grow apart from men, but Christ is faithful and always
with you, for Christ provides all things.
Let us always give thanks to him.
Amen.
Feast day March 8.
Taken from the Liturgy of the Hours,
According to the Roman Rite, Ordinary Time, Catholic Book Publishing Corp. New York, 1975
