Today’s Gospel:  Matthew 25:31-46

REFLECTION
In today’s Gospel, the Lord used the common illustration of the sheep and goats. These animals still graze and run together in Israel just as they did when Jesus was upon the earth. The goats are generally black, and the sheep dirty white; they are easily distinguished either from the other. It should be noticed that in today’s Gospel the decision of the judge was final; there was no court of appeal. It is also interesting to note the King said to the saints, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.” This suggests forethought, planning, and predestination. God knew those for whom preparation was being made. Even from eternity, God was aware of what would happen ages hence, and never at any time was He taken by surprise. Compared with the omniscience of God, man’s intellect is as nothing.

The people or nations (cited in the Gospel) which “fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the prisoners,” must have had great motivation. Are we justified in assuming that they helped God’s people because they first loved God? It is worthy of thought that great preaching, generous donations, social importance, and other embellishments are never mentioned by the King. He spoke of unspectacular events often considered unworthy of mention; He never spoke of ostentatious acts of splendor; instead, He spoke of hungry and naked people requiring assistance, sick people needing healing, and lonely prisoners needing comfort. He identified Himself with the most helpless of earth’s citizens and indicated service to them was a service to Him. Perhaps in this strange but delightful way He was emphasizing that often “the first things in life would be the last, and the last, first.”

There is no need to supply a detailed exposition of the latter part of today’s Gospel, for they are the other side of the picture supplied by earlier verses. What is done for God cannot be unimportant, and even a cup of water given in the name of Jesus does not pass unnoticed.

The story is told of St. Martin of Tours. He was a Roman soldier and a Christian. One cold winter day as he was entering a city, a beggar stopped him and asked for alms. Martin had no money; but the beggar was blue and shivering with cold. Martin gave what he had. He took off his soldier’s coat, worn and frayed as it was; he cut it in two, and gave half to the beggar man. That night he had a dream. He saw the heavenly places, and Jesus in the midst of the angels. The Lord was wearing half of a Roman soldier’s cloak. One of the angels said to Jesus, “Master, why are you wearing that battered old cloak? Who gave it to you?” And Jesus answered, “My servant Martin gave it to me.” When we learn the generosity which, without calculation, helps men in the simplest things, then we too will know the joy of helping Jesus Himself.”

Today’s Reading:  Romans 6:3-9

PRAYER
Lord, the little things I do for my brothers and sisters, I do for You.  Though of little worth, please accept them.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.