Separating the sheep from the goats

Today's gospel is the well-known final judgment from Matthew 25:31-46. The thought of having to face a judgment at the end of our life is not a pleasant one. However the good news is that the judge will be Jesus who made compassion the priority of his life and teaching. Our judge will treat us with compassion. However he will not ask us about our knowledge, fame or fortune. ''I was hungry and you gave me food, thirsty and you gave me drink, naked and you clothed me, a stranger and you made me welcome.'' In this most vivid of parables, the virtuous ask Jesus when they did this to him. We all know the answer. ''When you did this to the least of my brothers or sisters you did it to me.'' Those words take on special meaning at this time of Lent which challenges us to put them into practice in a more dedicated way. To help us to live in this way, Pope Francis gives us the example of the Good Samaritan. Chapter 2 of his Encyclical Letter ''Fratelli Tutti'' centres around the parable which he says eloquently presents the basic decision we need to take in order to rebuild our wounded world. ''In the face of so much pain and suffering, our only course is to imitate the Good Samaritan. The parable is clear and straightforward, yet it evokes the interior struggle of that each of us experience as we gradually come to know ourselves through our relationship with our brothers and sisters. Each of us have to decide whether to be Good Samaritans or indifferent bystanders.''(Paragraph 69). Dear Lord, may our hearts be open to all peoples so that we may create healthier societies as we are friends to those in need as Good Samaritans.