Before all things and above all things, care must be taken of the sick, so that they will be served as if they were Christ in person; for He Himself said, "I was sick, and you visited Me" (Matt 25:36), and, "What you did for one of these least ones, you did for Me" (Matt.25:40). But let the sick on their part consider that they are being served for the honor of God, and let them not annoy their sisters who are serving them by their unnecessary demands. Yet they should be patiently borne with, because from such as these is gained a more abundant reward. Therefore the Abbess shall take the greatest care that they suffer no neglect. For these sick let there be assigned a special room and an attendant who is God-fearing, diligent and solicitous. Let the use of baths be afforded the sick as often as may be expedient; but to the healthy, and especially to the young, let them be granted more rarely. Moreover, let the use of meat be granted to the sick who are very weak, for the restoration of their strength; when they are convalescent, let all abstain from meat as usual. The Abbess shall take the greatest care that the sick be not neglected by the cellarers or the attendants; for she also is responsible for what is done wrongly by her disciples.

The priority given to caring for the sick might remind each of us of our chronic spiritual infirmities. When we feel the strongest may be when we are in most need.

Most of us could benefit from God-fearing, diligent, and solicitous care. Most of us could do better at not making unnecessary demands of those around us.

I could be more attentive, more patient and more ready to recognize Jesus in those who are hungry, thirsty, weak, ill, and oppressed.

Monday was a warm beautiful day. I was driving from my last meeting to the hotel. I had the car roof down. A brass concerto was playing.

There was a red-light at the intersection. A one legged beggar standing on his crutches had claimed the concrete median. As he swung close to my car I shoved some cash into the milk carton he extended.

"God bless you," he said. I am not sure what I mumbled back. Our eyes met briefly. But I looked down embarrassed. This is almost certainly the way I would engage Jesus: with embarrassment and regret.

Since Christmas I have been trying to look into the eyes of beggars. It is difficult. But they deserve it and I need it.