If a man shows mercy to someone once, this does not save him. But if a man despises even one person and does not show him mercy, he becomes liable to everlasting fire. For, "I was an hungered, and… I was thirsty" was said not about one instance and not not about one day, but indicates one's whole life. Equally, "ye gave me meat,…ye gave me drink,…ye took me in… and ye clothed me" do not indicate a onetime action, but an activity performed always and with regard to everyone.
Whoever has given alms to a hundred needy, but while being able to give to others as well, to feed and give drink to many has refused those who entreated him and cried out unto him, will be judged by Christ as not having fed Him. Because, in these others also, He is the very same Christ Whom we feed in each of the poor.
Whoever today provides to all the needy everything the body requires, but tomorrow, while having the possibility of doing so, does not care about his brethren and leaves them to die from hunger, thirst or cold, has left Him Himself to die. He has despised Him Himself, Who said: Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matthew 25:40).
For the sake of this, the Lord was well pleased to take on the face of each poor man and to liken Himself to each poor man, so that none of those who believe in Him would exalt himself over his brother, but seeing His God in his brother would consider himself less and worse than his brother and would be prepared to exhaust all his possessions to help him, as Christ our God poured out His blood for our salvation.
Whoever is ordered to love his neighbor as himself, must, of course, love him not just for a single day, but for his whole life. Likewise, he, to whom it is commanded to give to everyone who asks, is commanded to act thus throughout his whole life. Equally, it is required from him, who desires that others do him good, that he himself always do the same for others.
How is Christ the Lord now contained in one pauper, while He is undividedly found and is in every pauper? Let us now suppose in our mind that a hundred paupers are as one Christ, for entirely and undividedly Christ remains in each of them. Therefore, whoever has given a coin to the ninetynine paupers, but berated, beaten and driven off one to whom dost thou think he did this? To Christ Himself, of course.
Thoughts of Venerable Simeon the New Theologian
With what hope dost thou stretch forth thy hands to thy Maker, when thou thyself turnest away from one like thyself who is stretching out his hand? With what lips wilt thou say: "Hearken unto me, O Lord", when thou thyself dost not hearken to the pauper, or better, to Christ Himself in the pauper, crying out to thee? How wilt thou ask with others in church: "Grant, O Lord", when thou thyself wilt not give to the needy, while able to give? With what hope wilt thou pray to God, when thou thyself dost not listen to the entreaties of men like unto thee. God is merciful and inclines with natural loving kindness toward a prayer, but to the prayer of the merciful.
A cruel heart towards the poor will also be cruelly chastised. Each tear of a pauper, who gives thee thanks, will shine for thee beyond the grave as a priceless diamond; each tear which thy coldness toward him and thy hard heartedness forces him to shed, will fall on thy soul as a drop of fire before the throne of God. Seek the mercy of God for thyself through alms to thy neighbor. "God will give," say some to those who ask alms of them.
Thou actest mindlessly if thou actest so with thine impoverished brother. God is sending the needy to thee, and thou sendest him back to God. God will give; without fail He will give; and thou give. He will give to the needy, but will He give to thee His mercy, of which thou art incomparably more in need, than the needy is of thine alms.
The Spiritual FlowerBed
Come and inherit the kingdom of God, the Lord will say to the merciful, not because they did not sin, but because by alms they cleansed their sins.
Blessed Augustine
It is good if thou dost not have a stony heart, but it is not good if thou hast a dried up and contracted hand which is not extended and not open to the needy.
Through the cheap price of doing good to men, we can acquire the priceless Kingdom of God.
Pious fervor in a little money is priceless before God.
Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow
Do not begrudge giving to beggars and do not turn away from Him in Whose name they beg of thee.
Hierarch Dimitri of Rostov
There is hardly a single pauper for whom by rights one might avoid fulfilling the duty of alms.
Saint Gregory the Theologian
He is not sincerely merciful who gives from his abundance; but rather he who, for the benefit of the poor, deprives himself of that which is necessary.
Blessed Augustine