The Word of God
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that 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 something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”
Matthew 25:34-40
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- In prayer allow the little word ‘I’ of this parable speak. Jesus invites us to visit him in prison, feed him in hunger, clothe him in coldness. Not just care for the people, but see and sense him in them. Allow a time of prayer to open the door to the presence of the Lord in everyone we meet.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Those on the king’s right hand have in their lifetime, provided for the most basic of human needs in God’s family. Not only that, but they have done it for ‘the least’. Am I selective in my giving of time, money, material or spiritual goods? Do I belong in the family of God?
- Love is shown in action. Prayer is not always enough. The prayer which does not lead to action is not real prayer. ‘Love is found in deeds rather than in words’ says Ignatius of Loyola. Prayer is not an armchair exercise!
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Those on the king’s right hand have in their lifetime, provided for the most basic of human needs in God’s family. Not only that, but they have done it for ‘the least’. Am I selective in my giving of time, money, material or spiritual goods? Do I belong in the family of God?
- Love is shown in action. Prayer is not always enough. The prayer which does not lead to action is not real prayer. ‘Love is found in deeds rather than in words’ says Ignatius of Loyola. Prayer is not an armchair exercise!
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- My behaviour rather than my beliefs reveal whether I am a Kingdom person. My treatment of others is the criterion by which I myself will be treated.
- Lord, you call me to recognise you in all those who are in need. May my response be one of concrete and loving service. St Ignatius says: ’Love manifests itself in deeds more than words.’ St John of the Cross tells us: ‘In the evening of life, we will be examined in love.’
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- This dramatic story calls me to conversion to my sisters and brothers who are in need. With Jesus I look at my life. Do I put myself out for others and share what I can? I listen to how he may be prompting my poor heart to greater compassion and sharing.
- Jesus identifies with the needy. Everyone I meet is a sister or brother for whom Christ died, as St Paul says. I may not be able to do much for others, but I can show them the respect and dignity which they need most of all.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- The Last Judgment, the /Dies Irae/, stirs my heart with fear. Yet in the end, Lord, your message is simple, your command easy. You are there beside me in the needy. I have only to reach them to reach you
- I can reflect on my life and see that whatever I did not do - and could have done - for others has also been neglect of Jesus. What I did for others is help for Jesus. Prayer gives an awareness of his presence and need in ordinary circumstances. Allow yesterday or last week come into prayer, simply by asking where today (yesterday, last week) did I answer or reject a legitimate call of Jesus for help. See the scene in prayer and try to sense or picture that Jesus is there saying, 'This is me, here and now'.
- In Jesus we are all brothers and sisters in the image of God. God is so big that we are all like God. What does that mean now? This is the big act of faith that we will soak ourselves in for the next few weeks, that God became one like us, one of us, born, lived, suffered and died like the rest of us. The real God is found in real people.
- Where is God? How do I find God? These questions are often raised today and were raised to Jesus too. He gives many answers in the gospel but a strong answer is in the gospel of the last judgement. In the poorest of the poor, we find Jesus. What we do for them, we do for him. The response of the people to this parable was total surprise - as would be ours if we heard it for the first time. Jesus had to spell it out for them. While you are in prayer you might picture some very needy people and notice in them the light and the need of Jesus Christ.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- The Last Judgment, the /Dies Irae/, stirs my heart with fear. Yet in the end, Lord, your message is simple, your command easy. You are there beside me in the needy. I have only to reach them to reach you
- I can reflect on my life and see that whatever I did not do - and could have done - for others has also been neglect of Jesus. What I did for others is help for Jesus. Prayer gives an awareness of his presence and need in ordinary circumstances. Allow yesterday or last week come into prayer, simply by asking where today (yesterday, last week) did I answer or reject a legitimate call of Jesus for help. See the scene in prayer and try to sense or picture that Jesus is there saying, 'This is me, here and now'.
- In Jesus we are all brothers and sisters in the image of God. God is so big that we are all like God. What does that mean now? This is the big act of faith that we will soak ourselves in for the next few weeks, that God became one like us, one of us, born, lived, suffered and died like the rest of us. The real God is found in real people.
- Where is God? How do I find God? These questions are often raised today and were raised to Jesus too. He gives many answers in the gospel but a strong answer is in the gospel of the last judgement. In the poorest of the poor, we find Jesus. What we do for them, we do for him. The response of the people to this parable was total surprise - as would be ours if we heard it for the first time. Jesus had to spell it out for them. While you are in prayer you might picture some very needy people and notice in them the light and the need of Jesus Christ.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- The Last Judgment, the /Dies Irae/, stirs my heart with fear. Yet in the end, Lord, your message is simple, your command easy. You are there beside me in the needy. I have only to reach them to reach you
- I can reflect on my life and see that whatever I did not do - and could have done - for others has also been neglect of Jesus. What I did for others is help for Jesus. Prayer gives an awareness of his presence and need in ordinary circumstances. Allow yesterday or last week come into prayer, simply by asking where today (yesterday, last week) did I answer or reject a legitimate call of Jesus for help. See the scene in prayer and try to sense or picture that Jesus is there saying, 'This is me, here and now'.
- In Jesus we are all brothers and sisters in the image of God. God is so big that we are all like God. What does that mean now? This is the big act of faith that we will soak ourselves in for the next few weeks, that God became one like us, one of us, born, lived, suffered and died like the rest of us. The real God is found in real people.
- Where is God? How do I find God? These questions are often raised today and were raised to Jesus too. He gives many answers in the gospel but a strong answer is in the gospel of the last judgement. In the poorest of the poor, we find Jesus. What we do for them, we do for him. The response of the people to this parable was total surprise - as would be ours if we heard it for the first time. Jesus had to spell it out for them. While you are in prayer you might picture some very needy people and notice in them the light and the need of Jesus Christ.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- The Last Judgment, the /Dies Irae/, stirs my heart with fear. Yet in the end, Lord, your message is simple, your command easy. You are there beside me in the needy. I have only to reach them to reach you
- I can reflect on my life and see that whatever I did not do - and could have done - for others has also been neglect of Jesus. What I did for others is help for Jesus. Prayer gives an awareness of his presence and need in ordinary circumstances. Allow yesterday or last week come into prayer, simply by asking where today (yesterday, last week) did I answer or reject a legitimate call of Jesus for help. See the scene in prayer and try to sense or picture that Jesus is there saying, 'This is me, here and now'.
- In Jesus we are all brothers and sisters in the image of God. God is so big that we are all like God. What does that mean now? This is the big act of faith that we will soak ourselves in for the next few weeks, that God became one like us, one of us, born, lived, suffered and died like the rest of us. The real God is found in real people.
- Where is God? How do I find God? These questions are often raised today and were raised to Jesus too. He gives many answers in the gospel but a strong answer is in the gospel of the last judgement. In the poorest of the poor, we find Jesus. What we do for them, we do for him. The response of the people to this parable was total surprise - as would be ours if we heard it for the first time. Jesus had to spell it out for them. While you are in prayer you might picture some very needy people and notice in them the light and the need of Jesus Christ.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- In prayer allow the little word ‘I’ of this parable speak. Jesus invites us to visit him in prisoner, feed him in hunger, clothe him in coldness. Not just care for the people, but see and sense him in them. Allow a time of prayer to open the door to the presence of the Lord in everyone we meet.