When Did We See You, Lord?

This is a little book, but it is a great book! I love it when I find a new little book like this one that is such a treasure. You can take it with you everywhere, and pick it up and read a few pages when you have time. I started reading my copy when I was spending an hour with the Lord during Eucharistic Adoration. It certainly gave me a lot to think about. After I went home, I read some more, and before I went to bed I read a little more, and then again in the morning. I also think this is one of those books that I will pick up again and again over the years for inspiration and to help keep me on track. The collaboration of Fr. Groeschel and Bishop Baker has produced an excellent book to help us see Christ in our lives. Bishop Baker tells us that Matthew 25 provides the spiritual framework for living the Christian life. If you never read any other part of the Bible, read this and there will be no question as to what you must do to follow Jesus. You will find yourself asking: Did I see the Lord in the poor, in the hungry and thirsty, the sick, those who needed clothing, those in prison, the stranger next to me? The Lord is always there, we just don't always take the time to recognize him. Fr. Groeschel challenges us to open our eyes and see what we can do in our communities and families. At the end of the book he gives suggestions on how to get started doing charitable work if you are not already involved. "If we do not recognize Jesus in the poor, He will not be able to recognize us at the Day of Judgment.", Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Excellent moral book, about the capital sins, and how we are supposed to live our lives in relation with others who are less fortunate than ourselves.

I've read all of Fr. Groeschel's books, and this collaberation between Bishop Baker and him is one of my very favorites. It gives an in-depth look at Christ's mandate to care for the poor. It also provides deep insight into the kind of thinking that prevents people from doing the right thing for their neighbor...all the prideful sins and selfishness that can kill our sense of charity. As a Third Order Franciscan, this topic has special meaning to me. I need such guidance to remind me what the real priorities must be in this life. I heartily recommend this book to everyone--it will touch your heart in many ways!

This was just an excellent book all around for anybody seeking to serve The Lord more dutifully. It examines and explores our motives or lack thereof in caring for others as Our Lord commanded us to. It is short, very thought provoking and well worth the read.

The genesis of this book was inspired by a set of talks that Father Benedict J. Groeschel C.F.R., gave several years ago in the Diocese of Manchester, NH. At the time while researching material for a project I was working on I came across an advertisement for the talks and found both the title and topic striking. The topic seemed to fit Father Benedict's lifetime of working among the poor and raising money to help their plight. I approached him, shortly after listening to the tapes and asked him to consider doing a book version. He liked the idea but was reluctant to pursue the project alone due to the shortage of time available to work on it. Unwilling to let go of the project, I approached another friend of the poor, Bishop Robert J. Baker of the Diocese of Charleston. I knew that Bishop Baker's priestly ministry had been devoted to finding Christ in the poor and with a wealth of experience he had in this area that if I could join his thoughts with Fr. Groeschel' s we would have a book that would be of great benefit to the rest of us. After approaching Bishop Baker with my request he agreed and then Father Benedict agreed to collaborate on this book. While the Bishop and Father Benedict were working on the written text of the book I came across a stunning work of iconography one day while visiting an Eastern Catholic church. On the back wall of the church was an icon of the Last Judgment taken from Matthew 25. I found that the great iconographer Mila Mina had written the icon. I immediately contacted Mila and asked if the icon might be used as an illustration for this book, her response was "anything to make the Gospel known!" Thanks to Mila and her son Father John Mina for allowing Joyce Duriga and David Renz to photograph the icon at Ascension of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church, Clairton, PA. Fr. Groeschel has written the introductory text that begins each section as well as the final "What Should I Do?" at the end of the book, and Bishop Baker has written the individual meditations and prayers contained in each of the six sections. While this book was being written, Father Benedict was involved in a horrific accident that nearly took his life. At the time of the accident the text he was working on was in his suitcase. He had just finished the introduction to "When I was a stranger..." as you read over the text for that section you might sense that he was having a premonition of what was about to happen in his life-where he would soon be in an emergency room under the care of doctors, nurses and as well as his family and religious community. You will find that this book provides you with keys to finding Our Lord in the poor, and to overcoming the fears and obstacles (represented by the seven deadly sins in each section) that prevent you from responding to His call. I am the author of The How-To Book of the Mass: Everything You Need to Know but No One Ever Taught You