The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31–46) is a powerful call to see the face of the Divine in the marginalized. Here is a prayer centered on that theme.

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A Prayer for the Least of These

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Lord of the Harvest and Shepherd of all,

We come before You with humble hearts, reflecting on the words of Your Great Assize. You have taught us that when we look into the eyes of the hungry, the stranger, and the broken, we are looking into Your eyes.

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Grant us the vision of the Sheep:

Help us to see the needs of others not as a burden, but as an invitation to love You. Remove the scales from our eyes so we do not pass by the "least of these" in our neighborhoods, our cities, and our world.

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Deliver us from the indifference of the Goats:

Softened our hearts where they have grown hard. Forgive us for the times we have been so consumed by our own paths that we failed to see the thirsty at our feet or the prisoner in their cell. Let us not ask, "When did we see You?" with surprise, but rather live so that our lives are a constant search for Your presence in others.

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Equip us for service:

 * Give us hands that are quick to feed the hungry.

 * Give us spirits that are open to welcoming the stranger.

 * Give us voices that advocate for those who are forgotten.

May we live not out of fear of judgment, but out of a deep, overflowing gratitude for the mercy You have shown us. Guide us to the right hand of Your grace, that we may inherit the kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world.

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In Jesus' Name

Amen.

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Reflecting on the Message

The heart of this parable isn't just about "doing good deeds," but about a lifestyle where compassion becomes so natural that we don't even realize we are doing it for the King. It challenges us to bridge the gap between our faith and our actions.

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