WATCHWORD:
34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:34-40
1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it? Galatians 3:1-4
Meditation:
At His Word
We have called this a Pandemic, this scourge of Covid 19. Worldwide, we have seen over multi-millions of deaths due to the epidemic. Loved ones have passed, alone, in isolation and sadness, and we can do nothing but pray and trust.
The Pandemic has brought out the heroes in so many of us. In fact, we have redefined the term “hero”, and discovered that heroes are right here in our own homes, in our own communities, and most certainly in our hospitals. And we celebrate these common ordinary people who have stepped up and gone far beyond the call of duty. Parents becoming teachers within their own at homes; retired doctors, nurses and other medical specialists coming back to serve us at risk, and so many others voluntarily, putting themselves at risk, to accomplish the greater good.
I can only imagine, Jesus gazing on all this, and nodding his blessing, not for the sadness and loss, but for those heroes who stepped up, you and I, keeping the faith. It calls to mind the teaching of Jesus, reaching out to widows and orphans, aliens in our midst, the poor and the imprisoned. Considering the culture in Biblical times, the defective, the malformed and those who were considered religious inferiors. While what we have experienced may not look the same on the surface, at its very core was what Jesus was teaching in the parable of the good Samaritan, doing likewise. Loving others as He loved us.
Let’s review Matthew 25. 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 grieved by the death of a loved one and you comforted me. Then what did Jesus say? “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”.
“That the least of these” were to be treasured, created a new vision of humanity. People actually taking Jesus at his word, acting on it, stepping up. We have used the word ‘Hero’, but I can think of another word that might fit–‘disciple’.
One of the struggles that the Apostle Paul encountered in this ministry to the Galatians, was that these Jews wanted to blend Judaism with Christianity because Christianity by itself was “too easy”. Clearly, the Judaizers did not understand what a follower of Christ is called upon to do. Responding to the least of these, is not easy. Loving others as Christ loves us, is certainly not easy. Ministering in a pandemic, is not easy. Living by faith and not by sight is not easy. No, it’s not easy but it’s right, and it’s the door that Jesus holds open to us.
Not just taking Jesus as His word, living it! Amen.
Bulletin Board:
Musings — At first, we had just one idea in mind: going back to normal. When the pandemic hit at the beginning of 2020 and parts of the world went into lockdown — with office workers operating from home and social lives put on hold — we couldn’t help but think about the days when everything would be exactly like it had always been.
After more than a year living and coping with COVID-19, those of us who’ve been fortunate enough to be healthy and keep our jobs are starting to be confronted with the reality of life after being vaccinated. And as the country starts reopening, and as it’s looking like things are getting back to some form of normal, we may realize that certain habits we’ve developed during the last months of the pandemic might not be that bad after all.
One friend commented, “This past year, so many of us have been more healthy than I can recall in pre-pandemic years. The masks, the social distance, the hand washing all have contributed to our health. I’m not sure I want to give it all up, not just yet.
Prayer Poem:
God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm
Ye fearful Saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.
His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding ev’ry hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan his works in vain;
God is his own interpreter, And he will make it plain.
Amen.
–William Cowper, 1731–1800
