“Come O Blessed of My Father.”

There is nothing more wonderful that we could hear from the lips of God when we see Him than these words. The possibility was presented to the apostles by Jesus when he spoke of the coming Judgement (Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus told his disciples that on the day of Judgement God will separate us into two groups. The one group will be invited with these words to enter heaven. The other group will be sent to eternal punishment. Jesus said that this division would be based on how we treated the afflicted: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”

Regardless of who you might think is to blame, the fact remains that dozens of families in our locality will be experiencing want in the next few weeks and community organizations need our help to meet their needs. Your help is urgently needed to provide food, heat and shelter. Ordinary people from our community have begun organizing efforts. You may help in four ways.

One: Pray that God gives success to our efforts to alleviate suffering.

Two: Deliver non-perishable goods or donations to the various food distribution centers in our area (New Love Center, Salvation Army, Howard Area Lions in Beech Creek, St. John’s in Loganton, St.Paul’s along Rt. 64 or stop by Triangle Park on a Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Three: Make monetary donations to the Clinton County Ministerium for fuel assistance. Make checks out to CCM, put “One Gallon Challenge” on the memo line and mail to 3 E. Walnut St., Lock Haven, PA 17745.

Four: Volunteer to help with preparing meals or with delivering food to those who cannot make it to a food distribution center. If you aren’t familiar with any of the local efforts, you may contact the Clinton County Community Assembly and they will put you in contact with organizations in need of volunteers (contact Sara 717-304-2944 or LockHaveninfo@vmcenter.org or stop by the Veterans Multi-Service Center at 8 N. Grove St., Suite 2.

Remember the words of Christ: “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you to drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'”

“Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me.”

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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week’s column comes from Rev. Fr. Joseph Orr of Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, Lock Haven.