Monday of the 1st week of Lent
Saint Polycarp, Bishop, Martyr
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46
In today’s Gospel, Jesus reveals a striking criterion for eternal life: our sensitivity to the needs of those around us. The judgment scene is not centered on extraordinary achievements, but on simple, concrete acts of compassion, feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, visiting the sick and imprisoned. Eternal life is mysteriously linked to how attentively we recognize Christ hidden in the vulnerable. During this first week of Lent, the Lord invites us to sharpen our spiritual awareness, to allow our hearts to become more responsive and less indifferent. Saint Polycarp, faithful even unto martyrdom, lived a faith that was not abstract but embodied in courageous love. Lent calls us to the same integrity: to see, to be moved, and to act. Our path toward eternity passes through the daily opportunities to love Christ in those who stand quietly before us in need. Let’s reflect: Lent is awakening the heart to recognize and serve Christ in the needs of those around us, allowing love made concrete to shape our path to eternal life.
Don Giorgio