Take some time to read through the passage, Matthew 25:31-46, then return to this reflection.
Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
.If you have been following these posts all summer, it might be surprising that it took us so long to finally come to this passage. It is one that people most frequently point to when we discuss service and the works of mercy. It is the obvious choice. Initially, that is why I avoided it for a while. There are so many beautiful and challenging passages in Scripture that relate to the works of mercy that I wanted to introduce as many of them as possible. Then there is this very well-known passage that is so very, very obvious.
While driving in to work today I found myself realizing that this passage is the elephant in the room. We need to talk about the obvious that we choose to ignore because it is a bit frightening to acknowledge it. Yes, Christ speaks of the works of mercy. We understand these – feed, clothe, visit. We nod along to the homilies that remind us of this. We murmur in agreement when we read of the works others are doing.
Then there is the elephant in the room. “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…these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Living out our call as followers of Christ is about being his disciples as wholly and completely as we are able. It means developing our faith lives and spirituality – constantly (Confirmation is not graduation from your faith development). It means living lives of mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. It means speaking truth with love.
Like the proverbial elephant, let us never forget we are looking to the long game, a very long game – eternity. We are looking at Heaven and Hell. Who we are and what we do here and now affects eternity.
- Who are you? What is your identity?
- Who do you think God created you to be?
- How are you living as a disciple today? How could you improve?
- What are you doing to live the call of a disciple in the world through works of mercy and compassion?
- How are you manifesting God’s love to others?
Director of Faith Formation
Share your thoughts below or on social media, tagging Holy Name Cathedral and using #SeasonOfMercy.
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