Matthew 25:31-46 | Hebrews 13:2 | Gospels in Lent Track: none today
They don’t even know.
Those who would find Christ in the practice of compassionate actions won’t even know it. This is a bit of a conundrum. Those who’ve grown up immersed in the ways and means of being a Christian might prefer to being able to figure it all out, to write a plan of salvation, to manufacture the road to heaven by some humanly-reasoned pattern found in the Bible.
But the picture of judgment Jesus describes here is not that. To “do unto the least of these” is to do something unaware. Apparently there is a deeper formation of compassion, grace, mercy, and love. It’s not the replication of compassionate activity. It’s a life formed and shaped by a compassionate grace such that the resulting activities of giving and solidarity automatically follow.
If we find ourselves not participating in such compassion, we must ask ourselves, “What do I need to do to better follow the Human One so that I find myself giving, welcoming, caring, and visiting?”
This is Jesus’ last teaching on the Kingdom in Matthew. Tomorrow, our readings will pick up the path to Christ’s passion and death.
Matthew 25:31-46
“Now when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne. All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right side. But the goats he will put on his left.
“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’
“Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me, you who will receive terrible things. Go into the unending fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels. I was hungry and you didn’t give me food to eat. I was thirsty and you didn’t give me anything to drink. I was a stranger and you didn’t welcome me. I was naked and you didn’t give me clothes to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn’t do anything to help you?’ Then he will answer, ‘I assure you that when you haven’t done it for one of the least of these, you haven’t done it for me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment. But the righteous ones will go into eternal life.”
Hebrews 13:2
Don’t neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it.
Prayer
God of justice,
You have shown yourself in this world in the poor, the hungry, and those in need. Make us willing participants of your grace and generosity, so that when you come again, we will know your face.
We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.