Within the context of the Church year, today is the equivalent of our New Year’s Eve. As with the annual New Year’s Eve celebrations, we can take this opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed. The Gospel we just heard, reminds us of God’s expectations for us. Drawing from this text, our Baptismal Covenant likewise asks:
- Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?
- Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? (BAS p.159)
Throughout the year, when these questions were raised, we responded that we will, with God’s help. Looking back, how did we do? In what ways have we made choices that serve the least of these, the siblings of Jesus? This question is not rhetorical.
{Brainstorm actions, put on sticky notes and place on the wall}
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.”
It is in caring for those who are vulnerable and marginalised that we can come face to face with Jesus. When we remember that life is not fair, that there are unjust structures that leave people on the margins, that there are priorities and expectations that treat some people differently, we may be reminded that Jesus didn’t get a fair trial. In those who struggle, we meet the One who fell under the weight of a cruel cross. How we choose to walk alongside and care for those whom society would prefer to cast aside: the poor, the refugee, those who are different, can help us look differently on the One who was scorned, ridiculed, and died out of love.
“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.”
We don’t always get it right. We don’t always get it wrong. Sometimes we are the sheep. Sometimes we are good goats. It is important not to get overly satisfied by what we do. As long as there are margins, as long as there are those who struggle, as long as there are those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, and in prison, we need to continually challenge ourselves to share our gifts with Jesus’ family, with our family. In Jesus, we are called to open ourselves to the truth that every person is a member of the family, created in the image and likeness of God. It is in learning this truth that we can come to accept that the expectations, priorities, assumptions, and prejudices of this world are human constructs that can undermine the wellbeing of members of our family. Knowing better, we can do better. We can be better.
As we look back, may we learn and commit going forward to continually seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbours as ourselves and strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. This we pray as we sing: (VT) 412 My Soul Cries Out.