Mt 25:31-46
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’
Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Listen and Act
Matthew 25 is one of my favorite scriptures. It never ceases to catch my attention, or pull at my conscience. Launching into Lent, this reading provides me with added incentive to listen and act. What concrete actions can I weave into the day ahead? Can my fasting encourage me to pick up canned goods for the on-going food drive at church? Can I cut out shopping for clothing these next 40 days, clean out my closet, setting aside nicer items for the needy? Can I reach out to someone who struggles with loneliness and isolation? Can I send a comforting card to someone challenged by illness? Might I seek out ways to assist those in housing crisis?
Morning finds me seeing endless opportunities to make a difference.
When I examine my day at its close, will I see myself as a sheep or a goat?
—Betty Collins serves on the Board of Directors of the Ignatian Spirituality Project, a Jesuit ministry providing spiritual retreats and companionship to people in recovery from homelessness and addiction in 20+ cities.
Thanksgiving Prayer
O God, when I have food, help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work, help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home;
When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer,
And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency;
Bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough to help;
By word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted.
Amen
—Samuel F. Pugh