34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:34-40)
Thought: As Jesus
walked those dusty roads of Palestine, everywhere he went, he saw people who
were lacking something, such as food, clothing, shelter, and money. He saw
people struggling with ill health, aging issues, no care givers or friends. And
each of you reading this lives within a “stone throw” of one or more of the
same vestiges of evil today. Whether you live in America, or anywhere else in
the world, the results of evil lurk within easy reach of your life.
It is good to visit people who are sick, dying, shut in, handicapped, or lonely. But it is also important not to feel guilty when our visits have to be short or can only happen occasionally. Often we are so apologetic about our limitations that our apologies prevent us from really being with the person when we are there. A short time fully present to a sick person is much better than a long time with many explanations of why we are too busy to come more often. If we are able to be fully present to our friends when we are with them, our absence too will bear many fruits. Our friends will say, "He or she visited me," and discover in our absence the lasting grace of our presence.
I’m
sure all of us have been through difficult times or situations that God’s
angels helped us get through. I know in my own life, I have been touched by
just the right person at just the right time—in times of need, of support, of
success, and of sorrow. Have you had similar angels touch your life
unexpectedly? Do you ever wonder if God put those people there to help you at
just the right time? We are all called to extend mercy daily, just as Jesus
tells us to do in this Scripture: “Whatever
you did for one of the least of these... you did for me.” My son Ian, who I
call one of God’s little angels, extends mercy to people in need through his
generosity and kind heart. He never hesitates to hand out money to someone in
need.
When Ian was in high school, he spent his summers working soup kitchens and buying hamburgers, with his own money, so he could feed hungry people living on the streets of Birmingham. He was not afraid to walk the streets and greet and visit with people. He developed many friendships through this experience, but most of all he developed in his spiritual walk with Christ our Savior. As disciples, we are all called by Him to do simple acts of love to extend God’s mercy to others. When Jesus calls, be His angel as other angels have been for you.
When Ian was in high school, he spent his summers working soup kitchens and buying hamburgers, with his own money, so he could feed hungry people living on the streets of Birmingham. He was not afraid to walk the streets and greet and visit with people. He developed many friendships through this experience, but most of all he developed in his spiritual walk with Christ our Savior. As disciples, we are all called by Him to do simple acts of love to extend God’s mercy to others. When Jesus calls, be His angel as other angels have been for you.
Jesus was the
ultimate care giver of all time! Almost every page you read in the four gospels
contains some aspect of Jesus caring for people. So how does that kind of
caring take shape in his caring followers in the 21 century?
Prayer: Lord, may
your presence in my life being a guiding and real presence in and among those I
visit. Help me remember those who are dealing with the burden of illness,
being shut-in, a handicap, aging, or dying. When I resist taking the time
or making the effort, help me remember that a short visit is a tremendous gift
when I can be present in the fullness of your love. Amen.
Questions:
1.
How
many hungry people live within one mile from your home?
2.
How
do you love and help people who are hurting—in his name?
