What evil did they do?

Right at the beginning of this first week of Lent, by having us read the narrative of the Last Judgment in chapter 25 of the Gospel according to Matthew, the liturgy gives us a powerful lesson about the sin of omission. To those on his left, the king says: “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

What crimes did they commit to merit such a terrible punishment? After all, they did not murder or steal or slander, they did not commit acts of terrorism or put bombs in planes. They did nothing at all and that is exactly what they are accused of. Their sin is that they did not see. Their astonishment is certainly sincere when they are rebuked by the king: “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?'” (Matthew 25:44).

Their blindness might have been the sign of their egoism. However, perhaps it was also because they were so preoccupied with their own concerns that they did not pay attention to the distress of the others. Lent can be a time to remind us that our Father is not blind and all our concerns and needs are known to Him. Renewing our confidence in His mercy and His fidelity must also liberate us from ourselves and cure our blindness, in order to make us capable to transmit to others the love the Lord bestows on us.