May 11

For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ — Matt 25:42-43 BSB

The failure to do what should be done is what determines the fate of the unrighteous here. They weren’t accused of cruelty or unkindness toward any of Christ’s little ones. They hadn’t wronged anyone. The only charges against them were of neglect. They saw “little ones” hungry but did not feed them, thirsty but gave them no drink, naked but did not clothe them, sick but did not visit them. They simply “passed by on the other side” when they saw human need and misery that they could have relieved. Yet their neglects counted as actual sins.

Many of us tend to overlook opportunities to help others and relieve suffering, not realizing that we are sinning against Christ by leaving Him unhelped when we could have comforted Him. This teaching should encourage us to be more thoughtful of others and more ready to embrace every opportunity to serve in Christ’s name. Often, we fail in love’s duty simply because we don’t think.