Do For Jesus

"Amen, I say to you, whatever you did 

for one of these least brothers of mine, 

you did for Me."

MATTHEW 25:40

Jesus teaches about service and kindness. He is saying that when we help others, especially those who are in need or less fortunate, it’s as if we are doing it for Him. This teaching emphasizes the importance of empathy and compassion in our actions. Moreover, doing righteous deeds leads to eternal life. 

31 Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, 32 and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 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.’ 41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’ 44 Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ 45 He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ 46 And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)

In the heart's quiet echo, a whisper is heard, "Amen, I say to you," speaks the gentle Word. "Your deeds of love, though they may seem small, reflect in My eyes, the greatest of all. For the cup of water given in My name to the least of brothers, it's to Me the same. The kindness you showed to the one in need is like a heavenly flower, sown from a seed. When you clothed the naked, fed the poor, you did it for Me, of this be sure. Your love, your compassion, your tender care is a sweet offering, beyond compare. So continue to serve, continue to love, for what you do below, is seen above. Remember, my child, in each face you see, whatever you did for them, you did for Me."

Lord Jesus, in Your words, we find a guiding light, "Amen, I say to you," resonates in the quiet of the night. In every act of kindness, in every deed of love, we see Your face, in the heavens above. When we reach out to the least of our brothers, we reach out to You, there are no others. In the hungry we feed, in the naked we clothe, we see Your love, and make an oath. To serve You Lord, in all that we do, to remember always, our actions are unto You. Help us to see You, in every face, and to serve our brothers, with grace. With much love and thanksgiving we pray. Amen.

God calls His people to live a life of holiness, just as He is holy. This means to live a life that is set apart, striving for purity, righteousness, and godliness in all actions and thoughts. The Lord likewise emphasize the importance of treating others with the same kindness, respect, and love that one would want to be treated with. It’s a fundamental principle that encourages empathy, understanding, and mutual respect among individuals. 

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them: Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. 11 “You shall not steal. You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another. 12 You shall not swear falsely by my name, thus profaning the name of your God. I am the Lord. 13 “You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor. You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer. 14 You shall not curse the deaf, or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the Lord. 15 “You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment. Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty, but judge your fellow men justly. 16 You shall not go about spreading slander among your kin; nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor’s life is at stake. I am the Lord. 17 “You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove him, do not incur sin because of him.18 Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18)

"You shall love your neighbor," so the Good Book does implore, not just in deeds, but in our hearts, forever, evermore. As yourself, you shall love them, for in each face, we find a reflection of the Divine, in body, soul, and mind. "I am the Lord," the verse concludes, a powerful decree, a reminder of His presence, in you, in me, in we. In every act of kindness, in every loving word, the echo of His commandment is distinctly heard. So let us love our neighbors, let us hold them dear, for in doing so, we make the Lord's presence here. In every smile, every helping hand, every heart that's stirred, we live the verse, "You shall love... I am the Lord."

Father in heaven, in Your words, we find our guide, "You shall love your neighbor," You confide. As ourselves, we shall love each one under the same sky, under the same sun. Help us to see, Lord, in every face, a neighbor, a friend, touched by Your grace. Help us to love, as You command with open hearts, with helping hands. "I am the Lord," You gently remind, in every act of love, it's You we find. Guide us, Lord, in Your divine way to love our neighbors, each and every day. All these we humbly ask and pray in Jesus Name. Amen.

These passages speak about the perfection of God’s laws and their impact on our lives. God’s laws are perfect, trustworthy, right, clear, pure, and true. They refresh the soul, give wisdom, bring joy to the heart, enlighten the eyes, and endure forever. Seek wisdom and guidance in the laws and commands of God. Pray and ask that our words and thoughts may be pleasing in the sight of God, our rock and redeemer. It is important to align our words and thoughts with God’s will.

8 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. 9 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye. 10 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just. 15 Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15)

"Let the words of my mouth," I pray, "And the thoughts of my heart each day, find favor before You, O Lord so dear, my rock, my redeemer, always near. In every word that I speak, in every thought, whether bold or meek, may they be pleasing in Your sight like stars shining in the night. You are my rock, steady and true, my redeemer, making all things new. So let my words and thoughts each day, reflect Your love in every way."

Father in heaven, "Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before You," is where I start. You are my rock, my redeemer, my guide, in Your presence, I take refuge and hide. May my words echo Your love, Your grace, and my thoughts reflect Your holy face. In all that I say, in all that I feel, may it be pleasing to You, may it be real. Guide me, O Lord, in Your righteous way, let my words and thoughts Your love convey. You are my rock, my redeemer, my all, in Your holy presence, I stand tall. In Jesus Name I humbly pray. Amen.

Pericope:

VI: Ministry in Judea and Jerusalem

THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS

Matthew 25:31-46

IV: Code of Legal Holiness

VARIOUS RULES OF CONDUCT

Leviticus 19:1-37

First Book of Psalms 1-41

GOD'S GLORY IN THE HEAVENS AND IN THE LAW

Psalm 19:1-15

Reflection Source:

Copilot with Bing Chat

Do Things For Christ

 "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one 

of these least brothers of mine, you did for Me."

MATTHEW 25:40

These words, spoken by Jesus, encapsulate the essence of compassion and selflessness. They remind us that acts of kindness, no matter how small, resonate beyond the immediate moment—they touch the divine.

Christ’s ministry was marked by healing, feeding, and comforting the least among us. When we do likewise, we serve Christ Himself. 

"Do things for Christ” invites us to shift our focus from self-centered pursuits to a higher purpose. It’s a call to live beyond our own needs and desires, seeking to serve others with love and compassion. When we do things for Christ, we align our actions with His teachings and example. It’s not merely about religious rituals but about embodying Christ’s love, grace, and selflessness.

Whether grand or mundane, every action becomes significant when done for Christ. A smile, a helping hand, a kind word—all ripple through eternity.

Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who 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 drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ 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.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, 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 no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’ Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)

When we extend a helping hand to someone in need, when we listen to a hurting heart, when we share our resources with generosity, we participate in a sacred exchange. We encounter the face of the Divine in the faces of those we serve.

The “least brothers” represent the marginalized, the vulnerable, the forgotten. They are the ones society often overlooks—the hungry, the lonely, the oppressed. When we reach out to them, we encounter Christ Himself.

May these words inspire us to live with open hearts, to recognize the sacredness in every encounter. For in serving others, we serve the One who said, “I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink” (Matthew 25:35).

May our actions echo through eternity, woven into the fabric of love that binds us.

Pericope:

VI: Ministry in Judea and Jerusalem

THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS

Matthew 25:31-46

Reflection Source:

Microsoft Bing

Published:

November 26, 2023

The Lord will Provide

Then He took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, 

and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.

MATTHEW 15:36

This miracle show the power and compassion of Jesus, who is able to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of His followers. Yes, the Lord will provide. He is the source of all our blessings and the giver of every good gift. He is faithful and generous, and He knows what we need before we ask Him. He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.

At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel. Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over—seven baskets full. (Matthew 15:29-37)

God provides for all our needs, both physical and spiritual. He is the one who comforts us in our sorrows, heals us in our wounds, and delivers us from our enemies. He is the one who gives us hope and peace, joy and love, grace and mercy. He is the one who is faithful and true, righteous and holy, powerful and mighty, wonderful and awesome. He is the one who deserves all our praise and worship, all our honor and glory, all our gratitude and devotion.

As we trust in His provision, may compassion and sustenance be our guiding light, and may we extend our hands to those in need, sharing not only physical nourishment but also the warmth of kindness and love. For the Lord said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Let us also praise Him for His goodness and thank Him for His grace. 

In this moment of compassion, let us remember the ancient words from the book of Isaiah. It expresses the hope and joy of God’s people who will see His salvation and glory on the day of the Lord.

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain He will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; He will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces; the reproach of His people He will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken. On that day it will be said: “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the Lord for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that He has saved us!” For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain. (Isaiah 25:6-10)

The Lord is all I need. He is the source of all good things, and that nothing else can compare to His love, grace, and power. The Lord is the ultimate goal and reward of my life, and that nothing else can fulfill or surpass His presence, joy, and glory.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. (Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6)

Lord, You are all I need. You are my everything and more. You are my hope and my salvation. You are my joy and my peace. You are my love and my grace. You are my strength and my refuge. You are my wisdom and my guide. You are my creator and my redeemer. You are my father and my friend. You are my king and my lord. You are my God and my shepherd.

Help me to trust You and depend on You. Help me to seek You and delight in You. Help me to love You and worship you. Help me to obey You and follow You. Help me to serve You and glorify You. Help me to know You and enjoy You. Help me to be with You and be like You. Help me to live for You and die for You. Amen.

Pericope:

V: Jesus, the Kingdom and the Church

THE HEALING OF MANY PEOPLE / THE FEEDING OF THE FOUR THOUSAND

Matthew 15:29-31 / 32-39

IV: Apocalypse of Isaiah

DEVASTATION OF THE WORLD: A REMNANT SAVED

Isaiah 25:1-12

First Book of Psalms 1-41

THE LORD, SHEPHERD AND HOST

Psalm 23:1-6

Reflection Source:

Copilot with Bing chat

Go to the Lost Sheep

 Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, 

“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. 

Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

As you go, make this proclamation: 

‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ”

MATTHEW 10 : 5-7

Lord Jesus, in my love relationship journey with You, there is a mission that I must fulfill. A mission that will fully rest upon Your word and instruction that I go to where You wanted me to go and say what You wanted me to day. Be praised and glorified O Lord for indeed, Your kingdom is at hand.

I do confess that there is nothing that I can say and do without Your wisdom and guidance. Lead me O Lord to a deeper understanding of the Father's will. Be my hand in everything that I do and let Your Spirit speak of the words You wanted me to speak. I only serve as Your mouthpiece. I am nothing without You Lord, be with me always.

You are my one true Master. May the authority You have given me be used for the betterment of Your people and not be tainted with selfish greed and ambitions. In a special way, I humbly ask and pray for all persons with authority to live their lives in accordance with Your will and purpose. 

Thank You so much Lord for Your words. Words that are truly alive and powerful, penetrating the deepest recesses of my soul, capturing my entire being. You alone knows my thoughts, desires and wishes. You alone can make all of these come true. As always, may You forever reign in my heart as the love of my life. 

With much love and profound gratitude I humbly pray. Amen.

CARE FOR THE POOR

"Hear this, you who trample upon the needy 

and destroy the poor of the land!"

Amos 8:4

5 “When will the new moon be over,” you ask, “that we may sell our grain, and the sabbath that we may display the wheat? We will diminish the containers for measuring, add to the weights, and fix our scales for cheating! 6 We will buy the lowly man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!”

9 On that day, says the Lord God, I will make the sun set at midday and cover the earth with darkness in broad daylight. 10 I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentations. I will cover the loins of all with sackcloth and make every head bald. I will make them mourn as for an only son, and bring their day to a bitter end.

11 Yes, days are coming, says the Lord God, when I will send famine upon the land: not a famine of bread, or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the Lord. 12 Then shall they wander from sea to sea and rove from the north to the east in search of the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it.



Pericope:
VISION OF THE FRUIT BASKET : AGAINST GREED - Amos 8:1-14

STRETCH OUT YOUR HANDS

A Helping Hand is the true manifestation of your love for Jesus. Whatever helping hand you extend today will eventually return to you even more once you grow old. It is a wise form of investment for your old age most especially when you are no longer capable of doing things on your own.

As the Lord said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” (Jn 21:18)

My wife's eldest brother Boy will be confined today at the Medical Center Muntinlupa so that the intestines in his stomach can be further examined and cleaned. He is quite hesitant to undergo this treatment because of its expenses and does not want to place such burden to his sisters. My wife assured him that it is alright and what is important is for him to be cured.

Being the eldest, Boy spent most of his life in Leyte as a poor fisherman until today. Although he was not able to help his sisters financially, he was always there to give them his helping hand. Now that he is already a senior citizen, his love and care for his sisters had paid off. All of them are exerting their efforts to raise the amount needed for his hospitalization.

The love you have for Jesus by way of helping and taking care of others will surely bounce back to you. Peter who was just a fisherman was able to bounce back from his mistakes of denying Jesus to become a builder of the Lord's church. He is now known as St. Peter who was entrusted by the Lord to tend His flock.

It is time for you to bounce back my friend. Stretch out your hand to help those who are in need so that your future can be full of help from the hand of God.


Lord, you are the hand that works in me. I shall follow you in whatever you do because of your love for us. Thank you so much for making me as an instrument of your blessings. All the graces I receive from you are meant to be shared most especially to the poor. In the end, I shall be the one who will truly benefit from the helping hand that I extend today. May your mercy and compassion be always in my heart in all the things I say and do. With much love I pray in Jesus Name. Amen.

GOD SHEPHERDS HIS PEOPLE

BE COMPASSIONATE TO THOSE WHO WERE HARASSED,  HELPLESS, AND WENT ASTRAY

When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things (Mark 6:34).

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish (Matthew 18:12-14). He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young (Isaiah 40:10-11).

Lord, shepherd thy people with thy staff, the flock of thy inheritance, who dwell alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land; let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old. (Micah 7:14)




Pericope:
THE COMPASSION OF JESUS (Matthew 9:35-37)
THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND (Mark 6:34-44)
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP (Matthew 18:10-14)
PROMISE OF SALVATION (Isaiah 40:1-11)
CONDEMNATION AND PRAYER (Micah 7:14-15, 17-20)


Published:
March 22, 2014 - Saturday, 7:12AM