In Matthew 40 there is the story of the sheep and the goats. It goes something like this:
Jesus separated the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. He said to those on his right, “Come; 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.” Those on his right asked, “Jesus, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” Jesus replied, “Whatever you have done for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me to the eternal fire prepared for you. When I was hungry you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty but you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in. I needed clothes but you did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” This on his left asked, “Jesus, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?” Jesus replied, “Whatever you have not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”
So what can we learn from this?
Well, it is pretty obvious that Jesus wants us to help the less fortunate, the “sad accidents of Fortune’s careless aim.” (I’ve always liked that phrase…. such folks are out there, usually through no fault of their own.)
Christmas can be a high-stress time for people – it can get expensive; there are many – perhaps too many – social obligations. The days are short; the nights longs and dark. It’s a good time to give money to a local charity – and maybe even directly to someone who needs it. They will feel better. I’d guess you will too.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
It’s pretty clear that Jesus wants us to help the less fortunate among us, and not just of our own tribe. He helped the Samaritan woman at the well, and the Syrophoenician woman. Also a Roman soldier.
This poster was used in a recent Veteran’s Day event, focussed on homeless veterans. Oddly, it was criticized for not being exclusively about veterans. What do you think? Feel free to comment.
The cuts in health care and food aid are going to put millions of Americans into the food-insecurity category, and force millions off any sort of health care. There has been some compromise out of Congress, but we don’t know how much or how soon it will help.
Go find someone to help, today. I daresay you won’t have to look far.
Indeed, it does seem like too many in the church are all about praising, but not so much about doing. Where do you score on this?
Wednesday Night Church of Jesus 