068. The Least of These My Brethren

On a recent trip overseas, we came across this poignant statue in a churchyard (look closely at the feet):

I thought it well-expressed the message in the Gospel of Mathew regarding the poor and needy, which says:

Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, 
Come, ye blessed of my Father, 
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 

For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat. 
I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink. 
I was a stranger, and ye took me in,
naked, and ye clothed me. 
I was sick, and ye visited me. 
I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, 
Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee, or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in, or naked, and clothed thee? 
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 

And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, 
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, 
prepared for the devil and his angels. 

For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat. 
I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink. 
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in, 
naked, and ye clothed me not, 
sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 

Then shall they also answer him, saying, 
Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, 
or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 

Then shall he answer them, saying, 
Verily I say unto you, 
Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these my brethren, 
ye did it not unto me. 

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.