Matthew 25:41-46 - Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, 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, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

In Matthew 25:41-46, Jesus tells of the final judgment when he will separate the righteous from the unrighteous. To those on his left, the unrighteous, he will say 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.' He then lists ways they failed to help 'the least of these' - the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned. When they protest that they never saw Jesus in such a state, he replies that whenever they neglected those in need, they neglected him. These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. This passage emphasizes the importance of caring for those in need as if caring for Jesus himself.

This sobering passage reminds us of the eternal consequences of how we treat others, especially the vulnerable. Jesus makes it clear that on judgment day, he will separate people not based on their words but on their deeds - whether they showed compassion to those suffering around them. When we neglect the hungry, thirsty, stranger or prisoner, it is as if we are neglecting Jesus himself. This challenges us to look beyond our own comforts and see the face of Christ in anyone in need. We must seek to ease suffering in this broken world, not just for rewards in heaven but because all people bear the image of God. May we never turn a blind eye to those struggling around us, and so avoid the eternal punishment that could have been ours. The fate of the unrighteous should motivate us each day to live selflessly, with mercy and justice for our neighbor.

Lord, open our eyes to the needs around us and soften our hearts to have compassion. Forgive us for times we have been indifferent to the suffering of others. May we represent your love to the vulnerable just as if serving you directly. Guide us to alleviate hardship in your name. May our deeds reflect your mercy so that, on judgment day, we may join the righteous in eternal life with you. Amen.