A strange judgment

The sources leave no room for any doubt. Jesus devotes his life to those he sees are in need of help. He cannot pass up any opportunity to help them. No suffering is alien to him. He identifies with the least and the helpless and does all he can for them. For him, mercy comes first. The only way for us to be like God: “Be merciful as your Father is merciful.”

How could we be surprised that, when speaking of the Last Judgment, Jesus presents mercy as the ultimate and decisive criterion on which our lives and our identification with him will be judged? Why would we find it strange that he identifies himself with all the poor and wretched in history?

According to Matthew’s account, “all nations” will appear before the Son of Man, that is, before Jesus, the merciful one. No distinction is made between “chosen people” and “pagan people.” Nothing is said about different religions and forms of worship. It is about something very human that everyone understands: What have we done for all those who spend their lives suffering?

The evangelist does not really take time to describe the details of a judgment. What he highlights is a double dialogue that sheds great light on our present situation, and he opens our eyes to see clearly that there are two ways to react towards those who are suffering: either we take pity and help them, or we ignore and abandon them.

The one who speaks is a Judge who is identified with all the poor and needy: “Whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” Those who have approached and helped the needy and help them have approached him. That is why they are to be with him in the kingdom: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father.”

Then he addresses those who have lived without compassion: “What you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.” Those who have turned away from those who suffer have turned away from Jesus. It is only logical that he now says to them: “Depart from me.” Go your own way.

Our lives are being judged right now. We do not need to wait for any judgment. We are now drawing close to or distancing ourselves from those who are suffering. We are now going near or far from Christ. We are now deciding our fate.

José Antonio Pagola

November 23, 2014
Solemnity of Christ the King (A)
Mateo 25, 31-46