"When Did We See You?
Monday of the First Week of Lent
Matthew 25:31-46
Lent begins by turning our hearts toward what truly matters. Today’s Gospel is both simple and challenging. Jesus tells us that at the end of time, we will be asked about love—not in theory, but in action. “I was hungry and you gave me food… I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” What surprises everyone in the story is this: they did not recognize Jesus—"When did we see you?" Jesus was hidden in ordinary people and everyday needs.
This is good news for us. It means holiness is not far away or complicated. It is close to home. It looks like love, kindness, patience, generosity, and mercy. Jesus meets us in the small moments of daily life—when we listen instead of rushing, when we help instead of ignoring, when we choose compassion over convenience.
Lent is a season of renewal, and today Jesus gently reorients our focus. Fasting, prayer, and sacrifice are important, but they are meant to open our eyes and soften our hearts. If our Lenten practices do not make us more loving, more attentive to others, then we have missed their purpose. True conversion always leads us outward. We demonstrate our love of God through how we love others, especially those in need.
This Gospel also reminds us that we do not have to do extraordinary things. We are simply asked to notice. Who is hungry for food, for attention, for understanding? Who feels alone, overlooked, or burdened? In responding to them, we are responding to Christ himself. Every act of love, no matter how small, matters deeply.
Today is a good day to continue our Lenten journey quietly and faithfully. Ask God for the grace to see Jesus where you may have missed him before—at home, at work, in your neighborhood, in the stranger you encounter, even in the person who challenges you. Lent is not about perfection; it is about learning to love more sincerely, one choice at a time.
May this Lenten season teach you to recognize Christ in the “least,” and in doing so, discover that your own heart is being transformed.
You are invited to reflect today about where in your daily life might Jesus be waiting for you to notice him? What simple act of mercy can you practice today as part of your Lenten journey?
Lord Jesus,
open my eyes to see you in the people around me.
Soften my heart to respond with love, generosity, and compassion.
As I begin this Lenten season, help me to serve you by serving others,
and to grow closer to you through acts of compassion, mercy, and kindness.
Amen