Reflection: Matthew 25:31-40

St. Martin of Tours, Bishop, Feast - Matthew 25:31-40

This reading from Matthew begins with the words: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels of heaven, He will sit upon his royal throne and all nations will assemble before Him.”  Then Matthew describes the “judgment” that will be given to various groups.  The nations will be divided into two groups.  The “sheep” will be at His right hand and the “goats” will be on His left.”

Then the King will say to those on his right: “Come, you have my Father’s blessing.  You will inherit the Kingdom that has been prepared for you from the beginning of the world, for I was hungry and you fed me.  I was thirsty and you gave me a drink.  I was a stranger, yet you welcomed me; naked and you clothed me. I was ill and you cared for me and comforted me, in prison and you visited me”.  At this, the just ask Jesus: “Lord, when did we do this”?  Jesus simply replies: “Any time you did this for the “least” among you, you did this for me.”  

Then Jesus spoke of the people on who will be on His left hand when they die.  He will say to these men and women: “Out of my sight, you condemned, into the everlasting fire!  I was hungry and you did not feed me, I was thirsty and you did not offer me a drink.  I was away from home and all alone, yet you did not welcome me!  I was in prison but you did not take the time to visit or comfort me or tend to my physical or emotional needs.  You completely ignored me and my teaching.”

Now take a moment and ask yourself: Given our daily actions and choices, how do I think Jesus might judge me?  Have we fed the hungry, literally or figuratively?  Have we welcomed the stranger or clothed the naked?  Have we comforted the lonely or visited those in prison, even if it is a prison another has constructed for himself or herself?  If we choose to attend to those who are alone and need support, we will have a place on Jesus’ right hand.  However, it we ignore those individuals who are in need, we are choosing to have a place at Jesus’ left hand.  

Life is all about our choices – our conscious and unconscious choices.  Today I invite you to be mindful and attentive as you move through your day.  It is our choices that will determine our life and our afterlife!  To a great extent, we create our present and our future!  It is our choice!  What will you choose today?