A young man once had a beautiful garden filled with flowers and fruit-bearing trees. He took great care of it at first, watering the plants and removing weeds daily. Over time, he became busy with other things and started neglecting the garden. Slowly, the plants withered, the fruits stopped growing, and weeds took over. One day, when he needed some fresh fruit, he was shocked to find nothing but dried branches. His neglect had destroyed the very thing that could have given him life.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about a different kind of neglect , ultimately the neglect of love. Rather than condemning others for sins of commission like murder, lying, stealing, here He draws attention to the sins of omission, the good deeds left undone, the kindnesses un-extended, and the love withheld. He simply points to what they failed to do. “I was hungry, and you gave me no food. I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink.” Many who are condemned are not sinners because of what they did, but because of what they failed to do.
Neglect is dangerous. In the Old Testament, God warned the people of Israel about the sin of neglecting the poor and the stranger. The prophet Amos cried out against those who ignored the needy, saying, “Woe to those who lie upon beds of ivory and eat lambs from the flock, but are not grieved for the ruin of Joseph” (Amos 6:4-6). It was not their wealth that condemned them, but their indifference.
Saint Therese once said, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” The judgment scene in today’s Gospel is not about performing miracles or great deeds, but about small acts of kindness. A glass of water, a piece of bread, a moment of care and these are the things that decide our eternal destiny.
In today’s Gospel Jesus identifies Himself with the least among us. Just as God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, He now reveals Himself in the suffering and the poor. Yet, how often do we walk past Him, blind to His presence? It is easy to think we are righteous because we do not steal, cheat, or harm others. But holiness is not just about avoiding sin but it is about doing good. When we fail to feed the hungry, comfort the lonely, or care for the sick, we fail Christ Himself. This is the sin of omission, the silent sin that goes unnoticed, yet carries eternal consequences. It is not merely about doing wrong, but about failing to do what is right.
This neglect is not only found in the world outside, but even in our own homes. A husband who ignores his wife, a wife who neglects her husband, parents who are too busy to listen to their children, or children who do not care for their aging parents, these are all forms of neglect. In religious communities, there can be a lack of love and concern for one another. Hospitals today often focus only on making money, while love and genuine care are forgotten. Everywhere, neglect is silently destroying relationships, families, and even society.
As we reflect on this passage, let us ask ourselves, what have we/I neglected? Is there someone around us/me who is lonely, hungry, or sick? Jesus does not ask for great sacrifices, only a heart that sees, a heart that cares.
Lord, open our eyes to see You in the least of our brothers and sisters, and give us the grace to love without neglect. Amen.
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