A time of Lexio devena for the discerning heart.

Monday of the first week in Lent

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

For the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord. Say slowly from your heart, Jesus, I trust in you. You take over. Become aware that he is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within your heart.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 25 verses 31 through 46.

Jesus said to his disciples,

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels,

then he will take his seat on his throne of glory.

All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate men one from another

as the shepherd separates sheep from goats.

He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right hand,

Come, you whom my father has blessed,

take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger,

and you made me welcome, naked, and you clothed me, sick, and you visited me, in prison, and you came to see me then the virtuous will say to him in reply

lord when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you drink when did we see you a

stranger and make you welcome naked and clothe you sick or in prison and go to see you.

And the king will answer, I tell you solemnly, insofar as you did this to one of the least of

these brothers of mine, you did it to me. Next he will say to those on his left hand,

Go away from me, with your curse upon you,

to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

For I was hungry and you never gave me food.

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