Thomas Aquinas, on Heb 13:3

“Remember them that are in bands, as if you were bound with them; and them that labour, as being yourselves also in the body.”

“He says, Remember them that are in prison, i.e., those who for the love of God were sent to prison. Remember them by visiting and redeeming, as though in prison with them: 'I was in prison and you visited me' (Mt. 25:36). Against this Isaiah (14:27) says: 'I opened not the prison to his prisoners.' But they did this sometimes, as is clear from Hebrews (10:34). But it particularly pertains to a work of mercy to regard another's suffering as one's own. And those that are ill-treated [labor] either with bodily labor: 'You shall eat the labors of your hands' (Ps. 127:2) or with spiritual solicitude: 'The farmer that labors must first partake of the fruits' (2 Tim. 2:6); or in enduring evils: 'I have perceived that in these also there was labor, and vexation of spirit' (Ec 1:17). In short, our whole life is a labor: 'Man is born to labor as a bird to fly' (Jb. 5:7). Remember, since you are also in the body, by which you have experienced what those who labor need: 'Judge of the disposition of your neighbor by yourself' (Sir. 31:18); 'All things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them' (Mt. 7:12).”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.