Matthew 25.31-46

We are in the first week of Lent.

Today the evangelist Matthew speaks to us of the Final Judgment, when the Son of Man, the King, will come in His glory.

Jesus told His disciples that, just as the shepherd separated the sheep from the goats, the King would separate the righteous from the unrighteous, the blessed from the accursed.

Those who had done good to the least brothers of Jesus would go to eternal life, to the Kingdom prepared by the Father from the foundation of the world, because they would have done good to Him Himself, who was in those who were hungry or thirsty, in those who were naked or sick or in prison, in those who were strangers.

And those who had not done good to the least brothers of Jesus would go to eternal punishment, into eternal fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels, because they would not have done good to Him Himself, who was equally in those who were hungry or thirsty, in those who were naked or sick or in prison, in those who were strangers.

All the nations will be assembled before Jesus, the King, the Son of Man, seated on His glorious throne, accompanied by all the angels.

Almsgiving is one of the Lenten commitments we make on Ash Wednesday. Almsgiving is charity, it is the concrete good we do to the least brothers of Jesus, that is, to the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, in prison and strangers. In short, to those most in need.

We do charity because we recognize that they are human beings, created in the image and likeness of God, with a very high dignity. And we do it also because we believe in the words of Jesus, Who said that, in a real, albeit mysterious way, He was truly present in them.

Indeed, through the mystery of the incarnation, by which, being God, He became man, Jesus identified Himself in such a way with the human being that the pain of any man is His own pain. In other words, Jesus continues to be crucified in those who suffer, and He continues to be comforted in those who receive charity.

Let us do good. Let us take advantage of every opportunity. Jesus is waiting for our comfort in the least brothers of Him. Let us remember: "charity covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). Let us be just, let us be blessed. Let us have confidence in the Final Judgment of King Jesus. Eternal life, the Kingdom of the Father awaits us.

Local: Springfield, MA, EUA

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