Engaging the World Through Advocacy: Loving the Least

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly 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.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ ~ Matthew 25:31-40

 How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? ~ 1 John 3:17

 The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong in the world. ~ Paul Farmer

I've read some articles and blog sites that take the words of Matthew 25 to mean some very particular people who are "the least of these." As in, Jesus is referring only to believers. So, only believers who are naked, hungry, thirsty, sick, or in prison.

 Because only believers can be called brothers or sisters.

 I suppose that it is tempting to try to rationalize this passage in some way. It certainly makes it easier to swallow. Or feel you can live up to.

 I mean, who among us constantly advocates for EVERY person who is taken, hungry, thirsty, sick, or in prison?

 But taking this passage in that way, doesn't fall in line with a God who commanded love for the alien.

 A God who who demonstrated a rich, abundant love to even those who didn't deserve it by our standards.

 Or a savior who walked the earth and broke bread with sinners, blessed Samaritans, healed servants of Roman occupiers, and Canaanite - enemy - women.

 Or a God who sent a son not to condemn the world - the entire cosmos - but so that the cosmos could be saved through him.

 It's that very idea that God would love the cosmos so much that advocating and helping those in need, no matter who they are, show us what love is really all about.

 Can we really love too much, or only a select few?

 Or does love become more real, more full, more wonderful, when we love even those we've been conditioned not to love? 

 Is that when love really abides...lives...in us?
Prayer: Teach me to love the least, the poorest, the most marginalized, so that I can begin to understand just how it is possible for you to love me! Amen





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