"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
