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Gospel Reading for February 23, 2026 – Matthew 25: 31-46
THE FACE
Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who 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 drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘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, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’ Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
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This Gospel reading says it all: if we spend our lives loving others—especially those most in need—we are already walking the path that leads to heaven.
Jesus, our Savior and the very Son of God, the source of all Love, chose to identify himself with those in need. He made himself THE FACE of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, and the imprisoned. In doing so, he taught us that every act of love shown to the least of our brothers and sisters is an act of love offered to him.
May it be that whenever we gaze upon the Cross, and whenever we receive him in Holy Communion, we become more aware of those around us who are longing for compassion and care—and be moved to help them.
Often, we do not need to look far. Those who need love most may be within our own families. There may be someone quietly suffering, yearning for understanding, forgiveness, or simple attention, yet unnoticed. As the saying goes, “Charity begins at home.”
Lord Jesus, teach us to value what truly matters beyond this life, so that we may one day share in eternal happiness with you!
