Monday of the First Week of Lent
Today’s gospel passage tells the story where Christ separates the sheep from the goats on judgment day. As I read this passage, I was struck by the fact that neither the sheep nor the goats recognized Christ in the people they encountered. In order for us to be disciples of Christ- loving God, others and self, we must be able to recognize His Face not only within the faces of all those we meet, but also within us. No longer will it be me serving others, but it will be Christ in me showing mercy and love to Christ in those I encounter.
Jesus tells His disciples about the Son of Man who comes in glory and will separate the sheep from the goats. He invites the sheep to “inherit the kingdom” because they had provided food, drink, shelter and comfort to Him! The sheep ask Jesus, “When did we do these things for you? “and Jesus explains that He was present in the “least brothers of mine.” The goats also had not recognized Jesus in “the least ones” but they had not done anything to provide food, drink, shelter, and comfort to those in need.
The sheep (or the righteous) were living out the commandments given to them by God long ago. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Lev 19:18) They were caring for the poor- the least brothers and sisters- because God had commanded them to do so. Jesus places the care of the poor into a new light. No longer is our care for others based on doing something because God tells us, but Jesus is helping us to recognize that God’s presence is within every person. The way we care or not care for others is the very way we show our love towards God. Pope Francis helps to explain this when he says, “You tell us that to love God and neighbor is not something abstract but profoundly concrete: it means seeing in every person the face of the Lord to be served, and to serve concretely.” (Church of Mercy pg 102) Feeding the poor, giving drink to the thirsty, comforting those in need is a concrete way to not just love others, but to love God.
God tells us to “love others as we love ourselves”. And yet how are we going to love others if we cannot first love ourselves? By recognizing the presence of Christ within us we find our true self (or some people would call this our soul). This is the unique person that God created from the beginning of time that is part of the Body of Christ. When we recognize that God dwells within, then we also come to realize as Pope Francis says, ‘And you are, dear brothers and sisters, the Face of Jesus.” (Church of Mercy pg. 102) Because of Christ’s presence within us, it is His love, mercy and comfort that we can provide to those who are in need. If we give from our personal supply there are great limits. But when we give mercy from Christ within us, then our giving will be generous and overflowing.
Recognizing Christ both within us and within others (and actually within all of creation) requires opportunities to become more familiar with Him. How can you recognize someone that you have never met or someone you do not spend time trying to get to know? Through prayer, scripture, and sacrament, we have various ways to encounter Christ. As we get to know him more, He will be easier to recognize both within our lives and within the people around us. When we open our eyes to see Him, open our minds to know Him more fully, and open our hearts to allow His love to fill us more deeply, then we can become His face of mercy and love. Like the sheep in the gospel passage, through our lives of concrete service we will inherit the Kingdom of God. But if we allow Christ to live in us and through us in the present moment, then we allow that kingdom of God to become a reality even within our lives today.
"Heavenly Father, You sent us Jesus so we can concretely experience Your love and mercy. Through the grace of Your Spirit give us the ability to recognize the face of Christ in others and within our lives, so we can continue to concretely give your love and mercy to all. May our lives of service give you glory. We pray this through Christ, our LORD. Amen"
Marylynn Herchline