Then the righteous will answer him and say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?” And the king will say to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
– Matthew 25:37-40
Jesus communicates with a staggering and perhaps unsettling clarity what the call of discipleship looks like in a world of winners and losers, powerful and weak, haves and have-nots. The sick, the impoverished, the imprisoned, the foreigner don’t only need aid from those who can help, but these “least” ones are the people with whom Jesus (the king in passage above) identifies himself. It is simply impossible to imagine a more elevated view of those who might appear to be small, powerless, and insignificant.
The implications are both comforting and challenging. We can take great comfort in knowing that when we are in a position of weakness, suffering, and vulnerability, God is close and on our side. The challenge is equally clear: we simply cannot seek the Lord and remain unmoved by the plight of those in need. “Those who shut their ears to the cry of the poor will themselves call out and not be answered” (Proverbs 21:13).
Serving others is not about solving every problem in the world or chasing utopia; it’s about sharing God’s heart. It’s about seeing what God sees, loving what God loves, and doing what God does. It’s about doing what we can to be salt, light, and leaven in a hurting, unjust world. “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise” (Luke 3:11, NRSV-CE).
OPEN TO GOD
Open to God in your usual way.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord, you speak words of love and of challenge to your friends and followers. As one of your friends and followers, I open my heart and mind to your words today. Help me hear your voice and respond with courage and trust. I cast my cares on you today, Lord. In particular, I give you my concern for______________________.
PRAY FROM THE HEART
Use the steps of lectio divina (read, reflect, respond, rest) to pray with Matthew 25:31-46. These are the words of Jesus to his disciples at the end of his final teaching discourse in Matthew’s Gospel.
For help reflecting:
- What emotions arise in you as you read this parable? Notice these, tell Jesus about them, and invite him into these emotions.
- What word or phrase stands out to you? Pray with this and seek the Lord’s message for you today.
- What do you make of the element of surprise among both groups of people (“Lord, when was it that we saw you…”)? What does this seem to imply about the motivations of those who fed the hungry, etc? Were they doing it because they were trying to earn a reward from God, or was it something deeper than that?
Pray over the list of the corporal works of mercy, asking the Lord to show you one specific way he is calling you to live one of these out in the next few weeks or months.
- Feed the hungry
- Give drink to the thirsty
- Shelter the homeless
- Visit the sick
- Visit the prisoners
- Bury the dead
- Give alms to the poor
CLOSE
Dwell in silence and solitude for a minute or two under the compassionate gaze of God.
Jesus, I feel _____________________ as I ponder your words about the sheep and the goats. I invite you into these feelings; Help me grow to see what you see, want what you want, and do what you do. Thank you for loving me just as I am and for nudging me toward greater love for my neighbor.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
