WATCHWORD:
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 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.’ Matthew 25:31-36
Meditation:
Fear and Love
Years ago, I was involved in volunteer service in Arkansas, and a colleague of mine was suddenly faced with a double mastectomy. I can’t even imagine what was going through her mind as she prepared for the surgery. How do you prepare for something like that? I have known her over a period of time and I knew her to be a strong woman, with a strong Christian faith, and yet… Both the surgery and the reconstruction were successful, and, through it all, her faith in Christ stood out like a blessed homily.
Fear and change. No, fear and love of God. Change often comes upon us suddenly, without warning. We quickly run through the stages of denial until we are faced with the reality that something, we resist with every part of our being, must be done, or is going to happen, regardless. Cancer, open heart surgery, lung disease, back surgery, invasive tests, radiation, chemo, etc., words which too often generate fear and gets our mind racing, and we are clouded with darkness. Maybe we hear the doctor say “only one out of a hundred” are not helped by this procedure, but your mind dwells on “maybe I am that one”.
When the terrible diagnosis comes to another, someone we love, a neighbor, a friend, our spirit tells us we have a role to play. Reaching out, being there, communicating support, in different forms. Maybe we are reminded of a verse from the Bible “I was sick and you visited Me” and you realize that that means you, and you react. Perhaps you recall those times when it was you on that gurney, in that hospital bed, and how much you needed those expressions of support and love, and the meaning of Jesus’ words becomes clear.
I think we get caught up in the routine of our daily lives, and while our empathy is with our friend, we have so much to do and, maybe, our own priorities get in the way. I don’t know quite how to say this, but maybe some of the things on our schedule aren’t very important, if we are honest with ourselves, when balanced against what Jesus would have us do. Reordering your priorities at the start of each day may very well be one of God’s little miracles, just for you, especially when we act on the simple phrase, “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it”, it is amazing what becomes important.
When my friend was enduring the ravages of her treatments she was at home, 1500 miles away, visiting was not in the cards, but prayers, notes and calls were. I learned that she had an angel, throughout, who spent time with her, taking care of her house, running errands and done a multitude of little things, like sitting and talking – the acting out of Christ’s words. That angel, that friend, did not act out of obligation, but out of love. And, thus, the meaning of Christ’s words take on flesh and blood:
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 clothed 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 25:37-40)
Amen.
Bulletin Board:
Coming soon, the next book by Stan Escott. This one, you will find, is a fun read, a mix of faith and fantasy, an allegory of our own spiritual journey. Keep watching this space for more information.
Closing Prayer:
Dear Lord, You know that we live in a crazy and chaotic world. You also know my struggles in my daily life. When life gets to be too much, please help me come to you. Calm my thoughts and emotions and open my heart to your peace, comfort, and wisdom. Help me not to live in fear. Please reduce the feelings of fear and anxiety that plague me. Help me rest in You and trust You as I navigate through this broken world. In Your name I pray, Jesus. Amen.
