Living in the Spirit
November 22, 2014
Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:31-46
“Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” — Matthew 25:34b-40
After working for 35 years in the public welfare sector and being accosted by Christians about the “fact” that those who are needy brought it on themselves and should just get a job, I find it fascinating that Jesus in our scripture today ties no strings to the acts we are called to do and for which we will be judged. There is no requirements to look for a job, no need to present a detailed accounting of all assets, no demand for reparations for crimes committed, no admonitions regarding reaping what those needing health care sowed. Mother Teresa is one of the few people that come to mind who might have even come close to being able to meet the no strings attached requirements. And what about tough love? Aren’t we into tough love now?
This scripture is not so much about the “thems” of the world as it is about us. In all honesty we have probably all experienced some level or some type of hunger or thirst, been a stranger out of place, been exposed in some way or another, been physically or mentally sick, and imprisoned by our own sins, if not by the laws of the land. There seems to be something in human nature that demands our creating a hierarchy of worth among the children that God created and it is important that we are at least above someone on that list. Not so, Jesus says. There is no hierarchy of worth. Every hair on every head and the heads with no hair are valuable in the eyes of God.
We cannot be of any help to anyone we have to place below us in order to maintain our own self-esteem. We have no real self-esteem, if we must rely on the misfortunes of others to be comfortable with our own worth. The day we accept that God loves us for who we are is the day we can love others for who they are and then, and only then, can we fulfill Jesus’ call to help others in whatever way they need that we meet along the way.
Prayer: Heal my soul, O Lord, so that I may be a full partner with you in the work of your Kingdom. Give me eyes to see the needs of others, the heart to care, and the resources to help. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.