BE A BLESSING

Monday in the 1st Week of Lent
Mt 25:31-46

There are six blessings in the Parable of the Last Judgment.

The first blessing is that Jesus does not consider us as servants, neither as slaves nor as employees. Jesus claims us as His own brothers and sisters. He is our Big Brother. Do we live as His brothers and sisters?

The second blessing is implied by the first. Because Jesus is our Big Brother and He is the Son of God, we are therefore also sons and daughters of God, His Father. Do we live as God’s children?

The third blessing is implied by the first and the second, but, sadly, is often overlooked. Because Jesus is our Big Brother and God is Father to us all, we are therefore brothers and sisters to one another. Do we live as brothers and sisters to one another?

The fourth blessing is that Jesus identifies Himself so closely with us. It is therefore truly physically possible for us to meet, to encounter, to serve, and to love Jesus in the person of one another. Do we see and recognize Him in one another?

The fifth blessing is that being the least among us is not a curse or a punishment. Being the least among us is a special privilege because whatever is done to the least of His brethren is done to Jesus. To be least among us is to be a sacrament of Jesus. Do we aspire to be the greatest or the least?

The sixth blessing is that while our sincere, humble, and loving service to others may not be appreciated by others, even by those whom we actually serve, it does not escape the mind of God. God remembers. God is grateful. Do we remember God’s goodness to us?

With these six blessing comes one judgment. We must do everything to turn that one irreversible judgment to our favor: Let us be a blessing to others always by living out the six blessings of the Parable of the Last Judgment.