Matthew 25: 31-46 Reflection

Gospel Mt 25:31-46

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."

Reflection

I remember a common adage which says “What are left in the graves are the words left unsaid and the deeds left undone.” It is true. We live our life according to what we believe is essential. But if try to look back in our own “life story,” we can see how much we’ve lost and failed in many instances where we could have made a difference.

Human words and deeds are sort of “power.” They can either make or break us. In our gospel today, Jesus invites us to use our power for those who are “powerless” – those who are left with no words and deeds in their lives. Because laying down our powers for our own sake -indifferent to others’ needs – will ultimately create a power that will lead us into our decay.

The words of “Spider Man” would remind us that “with great power comes great responsibility.” Yes, there is power in us that can make a difference to the world. And Jesus invites us to use this power not only for our own benefit but for all of us. Every day is a new day. It is always an opportunity to make our words like a song that can enrich others and our deeds like a hand that can raise the weak and the lowly.