Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: November 26, 2023

Date in the Ordine: Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Scripture Text: Matthew 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 the 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."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

In the final days of Jesus’ teaching before his arrest, crucifixion, death and resurrection, Jesus told a series of parables about the end time and final judgement: the parable of the 10 virgins, the parable of the talents, and the parable of the judgment of nations. This parable, the parable of the judgment of nations appears only in the Gospel of Matthew. It speaks of the LORD’s judgment of us based on our treatment of the others for as the LORD tells us, “whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me” and “what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.” It is a sobering teaching for it alerts us to the importance of the two great commandments – loving the LORD with all our mind, heart and strength and loving one another as we love ourselves. All of us are children of the LORD and our treatment of one another gives witness to our love of the LORD. If we are incapable of loving the ones we see, how can be claim to love the one whom we can’t see?

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I love the LORD not only in prayer and praise but also in the way I treat others? What does my treatment of others say about my true relationship with the LORD?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, we praise You as Creator, as Savior, as Sanctifier. We offer our love to You daily through prayer and through service. Grant that we may demonstrate our love for You moment to moment through our treatment of all your loved ones, your daughters and sons, your disciples, wherever we encounter them. Stir your love within us and allow it to rouse us to faith and to loving deeds in your name and to your glory. Amen.