We Are Matthew 25: Called to Care for the Least of These
We Are Matthew 25: Called to Care for the Least of These
Scripture: Matthew 25:40 – “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”
Additional Readings: Isaiah 58:6–14; Galatians 6:7–10
Reflection
Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 remind us that faith is never meant to be passive. It is active, visible, and lived in relationship with those who are often overlooked: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, and the imprisoned. When we reach out to serve others, we are not merely performing acts of kindness; we are encountering Christ Himself.
Isaiah 58 calls us to genuine worship: one that loosens the chains of injustice, feeds the hungry, and cares for the oppressed. And Paul in Galatians reminds us that our deeds have eternal significance: what we sow, we shall reap. Acts of compassion, however small, ripple beyond what we see.
Consider the story of a congregation that noticed an elderly neighbor living alone. They started bringing meals, checking in, and offering rides to appointments. The simple act of showing care not only met her physical needs but also brought hope and joy into her life. One day, she said, “You are showing me the love of Jesus.” That is Matthew 25 in action.
God is present everywhere in the ordinary, in the broken, in the overlooked. To see God is to see the sacredness in every life, and to respond with fierce love. Too often, we cannot recognize Jesus Christ in our neighbor—let alone in ourselves. So go ahead. and recognize Jesus there. In the words of Ntozake Shange—“Love her fiercely!” So go with boldness, go with love, go with the Gospel into the world. Notice Jesus Christ in the person collecting your garbage. Recognize God in the young man shot down by violence. Celebrate God in the grandmother raising children again. Notice Jesus Christ in the woman sleeping under the bridge. Acknowledge Jesus Christ in the youth standing on the corner. Know God in the stranger living with mental illness. Remember always “We Are Matthew 25: Called to Care for the Least of These.”
Practical Application
See: Take time this week to notice someone in your neighborhood, workplace, or church who is in need—whether emotional, physical, or spiritual.
Serve: Offer tangible help—prepare a meal, send an encouraging message, volunteer your time, or simply listen.
Reflect: Ask yourself: “Where did I see Jesus today?” and “How can I follow Him in serving others?”
Prayer
Lord Jesus, teach us to see you in every person we meet, especially those who are hurting, overlooked, or in need. Open our eyes, our hearts, and our hands so that we may serve faithfully. Let our lives be a reflection of your love, and may all that we do bring glory to your name, through Jesus the Messiah. Amen.
Closing Thought
We are Matthew 25 people—called to care, called to serve, called to love. Let us not pass by the least of these, for in them we meet our Lord. Amen.