“Amen, I say to you, what you did for one of these least ones, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 

The gospel today is a classic that we’ve probably heard many times and because of that, we may read it quickly thinking we know what it says. But part of our challenge this Lent is to slow down and let the Lord teach us something new. 

Let’s think about these sheep and goats for a minute. Jesus compares us to two different animals and says the Lord will separate us just as a shepherd does his flock. But we are all human, not two different species, so what makes us appear as two unique creatures in God’s eyes? It sounds like it boils down to what we do or don’t do, for example feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, etc. Does that strike you as odd? Is God really going to only look at our actions to determine if we will inherit the kingdom? What about the fact that we say we love Him and accept Him as our savior? Or is there more to this story?

In another parable, when Jesus separates the goats he says, “Depart from me, for I do not know you.” but to the sheep He says, “Enter my kingdom, I know you.” Interesting that the sheep know their shepherd and follow his voice. So, maybe it has something to do with listening to the Good Shepherd and doing what He asks us to do? 

If He says in today’s gospel that when we do any of these things for our brothers and sisters, we are doing it to Him, maybe it’s because we know what the Lord wills for us to do because we have been listening to Him. We are all one body with Christ as our head, so when we serve each other, it makes sense that we are serving Him as well. And these things he’s asking us to do are all things that take us outside of our own selfish desires and into the needs of others, putting them first. That is God’s will for us, isn’t it? To give the gift of ourselves in service to others, as Christ did for us. It is why the Church gives us almsgiving as part of our Lenten practice, because it moves us from self to others. 

This story isn’t just about the laundry list of things we must do in order to be with Jesus, but more about doing the will of the Father over our own will. C.S. Lewis, in his book The Great Divorce, says, “There are only two kinds of people, in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’” Let’s take our faith to the next level. It’s a beautiful thing to pray and spend time with Jesus in our own little corner, but let’s be sheep who go search for Jesus in the flesh in those around us who need to feel the love of God through our hands. If we do this, we are doing His will and are one step closer to becoming a saint. 

Reflection Questions: Have you thought about how you can feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, visit the prisoner or the ill? Some of these people are in our own family, others are in our community. This week, seek out one way that you can serve others. Maybe it’s cleaning out the closet and donating those items to a charity. Maybe it’s finding a local food bank and donating some time, not just some canned goods. Maybe it’s going to a nursing home and reading to someone who is lonely. Find what God is calling you to do and put your faith in action. Do it for Jesus. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to see you in others. Help me to choose Your will over mine each time I want to focus on my needs above someone else. Amen.