Matthew 25:31-40
‘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.’
—Jesus C.
We stopped at a red light. To my right, on this cool winter morning, was a man of unknown age sitting against a store front wall with his knees drawn up tight to his chest. His hands were wrapped around his legs and his head was down, eyes closed or looking down at the sidewalk. He had covered himself in a large piece of clear plastic from head to toe. Above him stood a young man with his hand gently placed upon the sitting man, his eyes on him. He appeared to be exuding a quiet, caring manner. No response was coming from the sitting man. It was a tender moment that soon was gone from my sight as our light turned green. The memory remains.
Jesus tells a story in Matthew 25:34-40: ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 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, 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.’ …‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (NIV)
That is what I saw displayed in the caring young man. The saddest part of the street-corner picture was the lack of response from the man on the street. He never looked up! He was not reacting to the gentle touch of someone there for him, someone who cared.
With whom do you connect? Are you the lonely, hurting one with your eyes upon the ground, or centered upon yourself and your difficulties? Consider what might happen if you looked up! If you do, you will look into the eyes of God. Those eyes might be of a servant of God who cares for the hurting, the neighbor, the weary, the old, the child. You may see God in the reading of a passage from the Bible or through a worship experience or in the melody of a song or the rhythm of a poem. God tries in all sorts of ways to get our attention. We try all kinds of ways to ignore God and his loving care. We too often choose to wrap ourselves up in a blanket of plastic thinking we will remain hidden, or we shut our eyes or stare at the ground when all we need to do is look up, to respond to the loving touch of a stranger or friend, to hear God’s pleading voice through a caring word or a loving hand.
There is hope. No matter who we are, what we have done, how we look, God loves us and sends loving people into our lives to show us that love.
And guess what! God calls all of us to be his hands, feet, eyes, voice, and touch to others. Perhaps we have once been wounded or feel compassion for the hurts and fears of others. Allow those feelings to drive you into God’s compassion and healing for others wherever we are. Together we can make a difference. Together we can be healed and experience hope. Together we see God!
Prayer: Here I am Lord. I want to experience your love and acceptance. I want to share your hope and caring with others. Empower me, Lord. Amen.