Cloak

Jesus talks about giving someone something when they ask for it, such as a cloak or a shirt.  Behind this is his challenge to not be judgmental.  He does not say, "Give to the deserving poor."  He says to give to the poor.  Don't judge how deserving they might be. But there is more.  No one asks a poor person to give up their cloak.  It may be the only cloak the poor person has.  No, poor people ask of those who might have more than they need.  The reason I sometimes feel guilty or uneasy about not helping someone is that I could, but did not.  A poor person never feels guilty about not giving to someone.  The poor may be barely surviving.  The only one who could give all when he had everything to lose by doing so, is the Crucified One.  I am the richer for it.