VOICE OF THE LOGOS (19): REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT, YEAR 1

At the end of our lives, God will not ask, ‘Did you give up meat or fast for 40 days?’ He will ask, ‘Did you love? Did you serve? Did you help the poor’

First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2,11-18
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 18(19):8-10,15
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46
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For many people, Lent is about rules. It’s about fasting, giving up meat on Fridays, and performing acts of self-denial. People meticulously plan their sacrifices – some give up chocolate, social media, or alcohol, and others commit to praying more, reducing social activities, or attending daily Mass. They follow the Lenten obligations with strict discipline, believing that their observance will make them holy in God’s eyes. Yet, some of these same individuals hold grudges, exploit others, mistreat their workers, ignore the suffering around them, and refuse to help the poor. They pray the rosary daily but curse their neighbour, attend every church event but refuse to forgive. Their faith is focused on rituals, not relationships. Lent, for them, is external – a checklist of religious obligations. But what if we’ve gotten Lent all wrong? What if, at the end of our lives, God does not ask us whether we gave up meat, but whether we gave of ourselves? What if, instead of questioning whether we fasted for 40 days, He asks whether we fed the hungry? What if God is not impressed by how much we deprived ourselves, but by how much we loved?

This question is at the heart of today’s readings. The First Reading (Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18) lays the foundation for true holiness. God commands Moses to tell the people, “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.” But this holiness is not about religious rituals or external observances, it is about how we treat others. The passage lists concrete ways to live this holiness: do not steal, do not lie, do not defraud your neighbour, do not exploit workers, do not hold hatred in your heart, love your neighbour as yourself (Lev 19:11-18). The historical context of this passage is the newly liberated Israelites, who had just escaped Egypt. They had lived under oppression, and now, as God’s chosen people, they were called to be different from the nations around them. Holiness was not about following strict temple rituals alone but about justice, honesty, and love. The Hebrew word חֶסֶד (ḥésed), often translated as “loving-kindness” or “steadfast love”, is embedded in this command. It refers to a covenantal, self-giving love that goes beyond duty. God calls His people to live with “ḥésed” not just through prayer and sacrifice, but through active, concrete love for others. The message is clear: you cannot be holy and be unjust at the same time.

The responsorial Psalm (19) deepens this teaching, declaring: “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul” (Ps 19:8). The psalm does not speak of rigid religious regulations but of a law that revives and transforms. The Hebrew term תוֹרָה (Torah) does not simply mean “law” in a legalistic sense; it refers to divine instruction meant to guide people toward righteousness and justice. The psalmist praises God’s word not as a burden but as a gift that enables people to live in harmony with God and others. The law is not about restrictions but about forming a just and compassionate heart. This is the law that Jesus will later use to judge the nations.

When we arrive at the Gospel (Matthew 25:31-46), Jesus leaves no room for doubt about what truly matters. In the final judgment, people are not separated based on how much they fasted, how many religious rules they followed, or how often they prayed. They are separated based on one thing: Did you love? Did you serve? Did you care for the poor? Jesus tells the righteous, “I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me” (Matt 25:35). The context of this passage is Jesus preparing His disciples for the coming of the Kingdom. Many Jews expected the Messiah to bring a political kingdom, but Jesus redefines His reign. The true Kingdom is built not on power and conquest, but on service and love. The Greek word διάκονος (diakonos), meaning “servant” or “minister”, is at the heart of this teaching. The righteous are not rewarded for their religious observances but for their diakonia – their active service to those in need. Jesus directly identifies with the poor, the sick, the hungry, the imprisoned. To serve them is to serve Him; to ignore them is to reject Him. This is why the condemned are shocked when He tells them, “Whatever you did not do for the least of my brothers, you did not do for me” (Matt 25:45).

This Gospel passage radically challenges how many people approach their faith. Some believe that Christianity is about personal morality – avoiding sins like drinking, swearing, or sexual immorality. Others think it’s about religious piety – praying, fasting, and attending church. But Jesus flips the script: Faith without love is meaningless. Religion without justice is hypocrisy. We are not judged by what we avoided but by what we did. The greatest failure is not breaking religious rules but failing to love.

So, what does this mean for us during Lent? First, Lent is not just about what we give up, but who we give to. Instead of just fasting from food, what if we fasted from indifference? What if we gave up selfishness, anger, and hatred instead of just chocolate and coffee? What if we measured our holiness not by how much we deny ourselves, but by how much we help others?

Second, Lent is not just personal – it’s communal. Many people treat religion as an individual pursuit of holiness, focusing on their personal relationship with God while ignoring their relationship with others. But Jesus is clear: we encounter Him in the hungry, the sick, the imprisoned. If our Lenten practices do not make us more just, more compassionate, and more generous, they are worthless.

Dear friends in Christ, at the end of our lives, God will not ask us how well we followed dietary restrictions or how many rosaries we prayed. He will ask: Did you love? Did you serve? Did you care for the least of my brothers and sisters? If we cannot answer “yes,” then no amount of fasting, no number of prayers, and no strict religious observance will matter. This Lent, let us not focus on empty rituals but on true conversion – a conversion of heart that leads to justice, mercy, and love.

O that today you would listen to his VOICE, harden not your hearts! (Ps. 95:7)

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Shalom!
© Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Seminário Padre Pedro Magnone, São Paulo, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com

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Have you prayed your rosary today?