The readings make space for a truthful return, without panic or performance. Stay with what Jesus says or does here, and let it ask for one honest response.
Today’s readings
First Reading
Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and tell them, 'You shall be holy; for I, the LORD your God, am holy. " 'You shall not steal. " 'You shall not lie. " 'You shall not deceive one another. " 'You shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of your God. I am the LORD. " 'You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. " 'The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning. " 'You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD. " 'You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness. " 'You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people. " 'You shall not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD. " 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. " 'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15
The LORD's precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. The LORD's commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever. The LORD's ordinances are true, and righteous altogether. They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, LORD, my rock, and my redeemer.
Gospel
Matthew 25:31-46
"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?' "The King will answer them, 'Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' "Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?' "Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most certainly I tell you, because you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me.' These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
A question for your journal
What burden could you name before God without trying to fix it first?
Scripture text: World English Bible Catholic Edition, public domain. Reading citations are prepared for Come Aside from MIT-licensed citation metadata.
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