The King in Disguise: Reflections on Matthew 25:31-46

Today's gospel reading confronts us with one of the most powerful images in Scripture: Christ the King seated on his throne of glory, separating humanity as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. But this is no ordinary judgment scene. What makes this passage remarkable is the criteria by which we are judged.

The righteous are surprised. They ask, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?" They genuinely don't remember encountering the King. And that's precisely the point. Christ reveals himself in the disguise of the vulnerable, the forgotten, the suffering.

"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

This isn't about grand gestures or religious performances. It's about the daily choices we make when we encounter human need. The person asking for food at the intersection. The elderly neighbor who needs help. The sick friend who could use a visit. The stranger who needs welcome.

During this Lenten season, we're called to examine not just our prayer life or our fasting, but how we treat the people right in front of us. Every act of mercy, every moment of compassion, every gesture of solidarity with those who suffer is an encounter with Christ himself.

The sheep didn't recognize they were serving the King. They simply saw someone in need and responded with love. Perhaps that's the truest form of charity—loving without calculating reward, serving without seeking recognition.

Today's first reading from Leviticus reminds us: "Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy." This holiness isn't abstract or distant. It's expressed in how we treat our neighbor, especially those who are vulnerable. Don't exploit. Don't withhold wages. Don't curse the deaf or put obstacles before the blind. Love your neighbor as yourself.

The question this gospel poses to each of us is simple but profound: Are we seeing Christ in those we encounter today?