Finding the Lord

Ostendam sane quomodo Dominus possit aut inveniriant cognosci, si tamen est animus videndi. Si vis videre Dominum, requirit mendicum, suscipe peregrinum, visita infirmum, curre ad carcerem. Si vis videre Deum, vincula captivitatis absolve, nodos iniquitatis incide. Audi de hoc Dominum dicentem: Esurivi, et dedistis mihi manducare; sitivi,et dedistis mihi bibere; hospes fui, et suscepistis me; nudus fui, et cooperuistis me; infirmus fui, et visitastis me; in carcere eram, et venistis ad me. Moneo ita que ne despicias nudum, ne caeco manum subtrahas, ne involutum pannis contemnas. ln hac enim veste primum Dominus cum a Magis quaereretur, inventus est. Sanctus Valerianus Cemeliensis, Homily I

I shall show how the Lord can be found and known, if only a soul would see. If you wish to see the Lord, seek out the beggar, receive the wanderer, visit the sick, run to the prison. If you wish to see God, loose the captive's chains, cut the knots of iniquity. Listen to Christ himself speaking about this: ' I was hungry and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; naked and you covered me; sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me.'1 So I, too, warn you not to despise the naked, nor withdraw your hand from the blind, nor scorn the man wrapped in rags. In such clothing was the Lord found when the Magi first found him. Saint Valerian of Cimelium, First Homily 1 Mt 25. 35-36