Letters: Jesus calls nations to help needy

I respectfully take issue with the letter writer who said Jesus did not give the dictum to welcome the stranger, clothe the naked and feed the hungry “to the governor or the emperor or the chief priest” but to individuals (“Obama should set example on refugees,” Dec. 10).

I find the opposite is true. In Matthew 25, Jesus said that at the ultimate judgment God will call all the nations before him. It is to these nations that he says to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, take care of the sick and visit the prisoner.

That, of course, does not rule out individual responsibility. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he teaches his disciples (and ultimately us) to do all these things both individually and collectively. That includes nations.