St Martin Moments

I am a little late in posting this, but one of the things that has stayed with me since hearing yesterday's Gospel passage (Matt. 25:31-46), is the story of St Martin's Cloak. While Martin was a soldier passing outside the city of Amiens, France, garbed in his uniform, he happens upon a beggar with no coat. Martin takes his sword and cuts his military robe in half and gives half to the beggar. Martin is laughed at by the locals who witness his kind deed.
That night Christ appears to Martin in a dream wearing the piece of cloak Martin gave to the beggar earlier that day. Christ says to the angels around Him: "Martin is still only a catechumen, but he has clothed Me with this garment."
Martin lived out the passage from Matthew's Gospel- "...whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Me."
Moments such as these present themselves to us throughout our lives, for some, perhaps each day. Fr. Joseph T. Lienhard,  in a reflection on this Gospel passage, calls these moments "Martin Moments". I love that! There is always someone in need of food, clothing, shelter, or maybe just a kind word or a visit.
During these days of Lent may we become more aware of these Martin Moments and act on them as St Martin did that cold winter's day.