The Bigamist Amongst Us

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.

He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.

Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!"

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.


Prayer Beads
The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!”

Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives:

a. The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.
b. Our 3rd wife? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.
c. The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
d. The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.
Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament.

Matthew 6:24-34

24“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?27And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?28And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

These Shoes Were Made For Walking - Sermon

I’ve been asked to share the full sermon, so here it is in manuscript form. This is not the way it ends up when it is preached on a Sunday morning, but I hope you hear the Word God has for you!

While I was researching the scripture for this sermon I found a fascinating story about an art exhibition titled “Holy Ground”. The actual exhibit consists of shoes & stories of faith from all around the world. As part of the Holy Ground project artist Paul Hobbs collected shoes from persecuted people all around the world. Their owners’ stories are shown alongside the shoes and include a diverse group of people and represent an assortment of backgrounds – everyone from a black Zimbabwean woman writing about colonial oppression; a Pakistani man telling of being enslaved by drugs and an Indian woman speaking of being tricked into and trapped in the sex trade for 15 years. Inspired by this exhibit, other programs have also begun to display someone’s shoes and ask the individual to share their testimony of faith. As I looked at the photos of the different pairs of shoes in the Holy Ground exhibit I reflected on this passage from Luke’s Gospel and the disciples walk to Emmaus.

In this familiar scripture we encounter two of Jesus’ disciples – now we don’t know both of their names, and for whatever reason, it doesn’t seem to be necessary to know both names. Most scholars agree that the named disciple – Cleopas was traveling with his wife, who was also a follower of Jesus and is also mentioned earlier in the scripture. What we do know is that they were leaving Jerusalem and they were getting out of town. We also know that they had left Jerusalem on the very day that the tomb was found empty – what we now know as Easter. Earlier in the scripture we remember that Mary had returned to the disciples and told them that Jesus had risen from the dead. But these two – immediately, the very same day they heard the news, reacted to Jesus crucifixion and burial by leaving Jerusalem, where was their faith – their belief in what Jesus had taught them? Most likely, they were like the majority of Jews of that time, believing that the Old Testament prophesies were pointing to a military or a political messiah – savior.

As they walked along that dry, dusty road it seems that they were reflecting on their shattered hopes and broken dreams. I imagine they were disappointed and disillusioned – they had invested time, energy, and effort in someone who had promised them so much – and then he had fallen to the Roman Empire like nothing more than a common criminal. Can you imagine it – they shared meals together, made plans together, worked alongside each other – and then – it was over. And Jesus didn’t even put up a fight! He just willingly let himself be tortured and crucified. Now he was dead. All hope in him being the messiah was dead also. Now what do we do? Have you ever been in an emotional state where all of your hopes had been destroyed and you didn’t know what tomorrow would bring? Can you imagine how they felt?

In their depressed state of mind they must have been walking kind of slowly, dragging along their feet. After all, they really had no place to go, no longer had a direction for their lives. Well, this is how Jesus found them as he overtook them and began walking alongside them. Travelers along the roads during this time in history were often victims of robbers – remember the parable of the Good Samaritan? I wonder – Did the two disciples notice this stranger walking along the road or coming up behind them? Were they even aware of how far they had traveled or where they were? How often in this day and age are we reminded to be aware of our surroundings and to keep our eyes open for strangers approaching? Do you think the disciples even noticed the stranger and how long he was actually walking with them before the conversation started? Makes me think of the people we walk by and don’t even notice – the homeless, the hungry, the addicted, the hurting… – when we are so wrapped up in our own disappointments.

And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. I can just see this – the disciples had to stop to respond to this stranger. I mean – in their tracks – and looked at this stranger with their mouths open, hands on hips, and say “Where have you been? Don’t you know what happened? Don’t you realize what has happened to us? Wow! Where have you been?

Stop and think for a moment – I bet if I asked you where you were and what happened on 9/11 – you could tell me exactly where you were when you heard the news that America had been attacked. I don’t even need to say the year I am talking about – it is a date and an incident in our countries history that will not be forgotten for generations to come. But what if I asked you where you were on July 4, 1984? - - - I see a look of puzzlement on your faces – trying to remember what that date was? What significance it may have for you. Most of you don’t know exactly where you were or what you were doing. Yet for me – I can tell you to the minute where I was, what I was doing, and why it is so significant. It’s a very personal day for me and several family members, but not everyone was affected in the same way so the date does not have the same significance for all of us as 9/11 does.

This same situation occurred for many people at the time of Christ’s death in the city and surrounding areas of Jerusalem. For his disciples the events were heartbreaking, astounding, and overwhelming. For visitors and others that were in the city at the time, the events leading up to Christ’s death and even his death, held no real significance. So, it was possible that this stranger that began walking with the disciples, had no idea what had happened – I mean, sure, three criminals died on crosses the other day. So? What does that have to do with me?

“What happened?” Jesus asks.

Here it comes – the big moment – the opportunity to bear witness to Christ’s resurrection – to tell a stranger how much God loves us – that he sent his only son to die on a cross for us – and that he rose from the dead so that we may have life – and the disciples respond … “Haven’t you heard about the things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene? He was a man of God, a prophet like Moses and Jeremiah, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. But then, our high priests and leaders betrayed him. They got him sentenced to death, and then they crucified him. You know, we had our hopes – hear that HAD OUR HOPES – that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. It’s been three days now since it happened, and we just couldn’t take it anymore, being in that place – the memories, the confusion. And now, if you can believe this, some of our women – leave it to the women – have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and they couldn’t find his body. They came back with some out-of-this-world story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but – they didn’t see Jesus.”

When is the last time that you had an opportunity to share something that has happened to you and done so with such a dreary, sour look on your face that others were confused about whether it was a happy or sad situation? Imagine the look on the strangers face – on Jesus’ face – as two of his own disciples told him what had happened to him – to HIM! No wonder he replied – What a bunch of hard-hearted fools you are! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?”

And then …. Something awesome happened …

He began to teach them as they walked along the road together. Talk about a Bible study! To have the Master of the universe explaining everything that had happened from the beginning of time to the very present moment… wouldn’t you have loved to be walking in their shoes? But this was not the usual scripture stories that they had heard in temple all of their lives, no, these stories were being shared with them by someone who seemed to have actually been there when the world was created, to have really been present when Moses had wandered the desert, and to have actually inspired the prophecies for the messiah that had been written. This talking and walking took awhile. You see, just like us – in order for the Emmaus disciples to recognize the crucified and risen Lord, they first had to understand God’s vision – they had to understand His plan for salvation in the world.

Well, they finally arrived at Hotel Emmaus – where the candles are always lit – and Jesus started to walk away from his traveling companions and to continue on his journey. But, something made Cleopas say – Wait! Stay with us!

It was not uncommon to show hospitality to a stranger during that time by offering shelter, food and drink, but I kind of think that they were starting to recognize how their hearts were feeling as they walked along together and they weren’t ready to let go of that feeling. The feeling of remembrance, of familiarity, the feeling that this stranger may actually understand me!

And as they sat down at the table, the stranger who had become the invited guest, turned things around and became the host – when he picked up the bread, gave thanks, and broke it. And in that moment the disciple’s eyes were opened and they RECOGNIZED HIM! But before they could hold him, or speak another word – he vanished!

I am sure each of us has had moments like this. When we were walking the path of a family member or friend’s serious illness – and later we recall the stranger who prayed with us. Or when we have walked the road of grief – and someone sent us a message of hope. We all have momentary glimpses of Christ in our lives, but what do we do after we have seen him? For the Emmaus disciples’ , they got up – that very hour – and RAN – no more walking – they RAN – back to Jerusalem to tell the others what they had seen. They had seen Jesus and he is alive!

Let me take you back to the story I told you about the art exhibition called Holy Ground and share a few stories from the people whose shoes are on display: first, there’s Rosemarie from Germany who survived Nazi Germany. Her father, a Christian, helped Jews escape until the Nazis forced him to kill himself in 1938. Rosemarie then survived the brutality of the Russians after the war, and then years later, God led her to work in the former Soviet Union to speak about God’s forgiveness. Do you see him? Jesus – he is alive!

Then there is John Musa Puma from Nigeria who rebelled against his family as a teenager—following a native religion instead of the family’s Christianity, stealing, drinking, and even killing. Then through an evangelist meeting, John became a Christian, quit his rebellious life, and responded to the need for an evangelist in the rural parts of Kenya. Now John has planted a church in the neighboring country of Niger in a mainly Muslim area. Do you see him? Jesus – he is alive!

There is also Kanta from India who used to work as a prostitute for 20 years. Now she’s a health worker helping prostitutes protect themselves from HIV/AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases. She cares for these prostitutes when most of society treats them harshly, the hospitals not even having the time to care for them. She also has many chances to share God’s love with these women and girls who know very little love in their lives. Do you see him? Jesus – he is alive!

Just like each of these people I have had these types of moments and to share them with you, I brought a few show-and-tell examples. Maybe they will help you remember when you caught a glimpse of Jesus.

These are the shoes of my brother who was murdered fourteen years ago. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I saw Jesus in the faces and the prayers and the simple acts of kindness of the people who walked alongside us in our grief.

These are the shoes my children each wore as we had them Christened when they were infants. Now each of them is walking with Christ in his or her own way.

These are the shoes I got married in. To say that Christ has walked alongside us through the years through the friends and loved ones we have known is an understatement of truth.

And these, these are my baby shoes. How can I doubt his faithfulness on my journey of life with all the blessings that have been given to me?

And these, these are the shoes I’m wearing today as I struggle to continue to walk with Christ by my side.

We each have our own Emmaus – the place where we go to get away form our hurts, our disappointments, our pain. But, when we meet Christ in that place, we have to rest – stop what we are doing – and ask ourselves – do we continue to focus on our hopes, our dreams? or do we get up and RUN to tell others – He is alive! Jesus is alive!
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

These Shoes Were Made For Walking

Sermon snippet: Have you ever believed in someone and then been disappointed and disillusioned? have you ever invested time, energy, and effort in someone who promised you so much – and then been disappointed? Can you imagine sharing meals together, making plans together, working alongside each other – and then – it’s over.

From Luke 24: 13-35

Responding to Easter (Part 1 of 3)

This is the edited version of my sermon from this morning. May you be blessed and God be glorified.

“I want to share a true story with you about a nine-year-old boy who lived in a rural town in Tennessee. His house was in a poor area of the community. A church had a bus ministry that came knocking on his door one Saturday afternoon. The kid came to answer the door and greeted the bus pastor. The bus pastor asked if his parents were home and the small boy told him that his parents take off every weekend and leave him at home to take care of his little brother.

The bus pastor couldn’t believe what the kid said and asked him to repeat it. The youngster gave the same answer and the bus pastor asked to come in and talk with him. They went into the living room and sat down on an old couch with the foam and springs exposed.

The bus pastor asked the kid, “Where do you go to church?” The young boy surprised the visitor by replying, “I’ve never been to church in my whole life.” The bus pastor thought to himself about the fact that his church was less than three miles from the child’s house. “Are you sure you have never been to church?” He asked again. “I sure haven’t”, came his answer.

Then the bus pastor said, “Well, son, more important than going to church, have you ever heard the greatest love story ever told?” and then he proceeded to share the Gospel with this little nine year old boy. The young lad’s heart began to be tenderized and at the end of the bus pastor’s story the bus pastor asked if the boy wanted to receive this free gift from God. The youngster exclaimed, “You bet! The kid and the bus pastor got on their knees and the lad invited Jesus into his little heart and received the free gift of salvation.

When they both stood up the bus pastor asked if he could pick the kid up for church the next morning. “Sure,” the nine old replied. The bus pastor got to the house early the next morning and found the lights off. He let himself in and snaked his way through the house and found the little boy asleep in his bed. He woke up the little boy and his brother and helped get them dressed. They got on the bus and ate a donut for breakfast on their way to church. Keep in mind that this boy had never been to church before. The church was a real big one. The little kid just sat there, clueless of what was going on.

A few minutes into the service these tall unhappy guys walked down to the front and picked up some wooden plates. One of the men prayed and the kid with utter fascination watched them walk up and down the aisles. He still didn’t know what was going on.

All of a sudden like a bolt of lightning it hit the kid what was taking place. These people must be giving money to Jesus. He then reflected on the free gift of life that he had received just twenty-four hours earlier. He immediately searched his pockets, front and back, and couldn’t find a thing to give Jesus. By this time the offering plate was being passed down his aisle and with a broken heart he just grabbed the plate and held on to it. He finally let go and watched it pass on down the aisle. He turned around to see it passed down the aisle behind him. And then his eyes remained glued on the plate as it was passed back and forth, back and forth all the way to the rear of the sanctuary. Then he had an idea.

This little nine-year-old boy, in front of God and everybody, got up out of his seat. He walked about eight rows back, grabbed the usher by the coat and asked to hold the plate one more time. Then he did the most astounding thing I have ever heard of. He took the plate, sat it on the carpeted church floor and stepped into the center of it. As he stood there, he lifted his little head up and said, “Jesus, I don’t have anything to give you today, but just me. I give you me!”" – Author Unknown

What does Christ expect of us? To do what we can.

In today’s gospel reading, we encounter a similar kind of heart-filled response to God’s gift. It is one of the most beautiful gospel stories, full-to-overflowing with love and meaning. At the center of this story we find Mary and her extravagant gift of anointing Jesus’ feet.

This scripture reading comes right after Jesus raised Mary and Martha’s brother, Lazarus from the dead. Some of the religious leaders in Jerusalem were making plans to arrest Jesus and put him to death. Even with the knowledge that he was about to face his arrest, trial, sentence and death on the cross, Jesus made the trip to Bethany to be with his friends for this special dinner.

Everything changes when Mary enters the room with a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anoints Jesus’ feet, and wipes them with her hair. This was a surprising interruption to the evening. Mary’s action broke the traditions of the time. Women were not supposed to be the centre of attention in the presence of men, nor were women to touch a spiritual leader in public. Added to this response was the detail of Mary’s long hair being worn down. You see, it was customary for women to wear their long locks of hair up. For a woman to wear her hair down in public was a sign that she was not an honorable woman.

It seems that Mary’s act of extravagant giving was an unplanned, natural response of her love and gratitude to Jesus for what he has done for her and her family. Sometimes our hearts are in the right places and we do the right thing out of love, rather than hold back out of fear of what others might think. Like the little boy who stood in the offering plate.

One other point in this story I want to make is found in verse three. John tells us: “The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” John shares with us a symbol of an unselfishness, generous and loving act done purely as a natural response to the love that was given to Mary and her family. We can all be inspired by this detail to go and do likewise, following Mary’s faithful example. Our extravagant, loving acts as faithful followers of Jesus can add sweetness and quality to the lives of others.

I pray that as we move closer to Holy Week, we may each also move closer to the spirit of Mary’s extravagant, loving act of anointing Jesus. May we, like Mary live out our faith ever grateful for what Jesus has done for us on the cross, and act in ways that inspire others, that they too may come closer to Jesus and his all sufficient love for them.

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” – John 12: 1-3

Giving - thanks

The following is a portion of the sermon I shared this past Sunday with the congregation present at my local church. If any of it sounds familiar, or you think you deserve credit for a portion of it, please contact me. It has been said that a sermon is made up of the study, life, and ideas of the preacher - and everyone s/he has ever heard or read! So, in that perspective - pause, think, be grateful.


“The day is coming when Jesus will come as King to reclaim the world and to judge all that is in it. That day is nearer now than it has ever been before. You can't argue with logic like that can you! When the Son of man comes as King, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. And the people of all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will divide the people into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put one group on his right and the other on his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; For I was hungry,

because sometimes I just couldn't make ends meet. After my divorce from my husband and without a high school diploma, I just couldn’t get a job that would pay the rent and put food on the table for my children and save a little for the unexpected. I was usually able to keep us going, but sometimes the money just wouldn’t stretch. Kids grow so quickly! and with the cold weather that came – I just had to buy a coat for my little girl. And wouldn’t you know it, my car wouldn’t start the next morning – the battery was too weak. I managed to hitch a ride from a passing motorist, but I had to buy a new one so I could get to work again – I can’t afford to miss a day of work. By the time I'd paid for the battery, the rent, and for the coat, my whole paycheck was gone and I had nothing left for food. Well a good mother can't starve her children, can she? We had enough food in the house so I could feed the kids’ dinner each night, and I knew that they would be given breakfast and lunch at school, but I hadn't really eaten myself for a few days when you found out what was happening. And then you gave me food. You gave me some boxes and canned goods from your own pantry and some zucchinis you had put up from your own garden. And you didn't make me feel patronized or pitied, you treated me as a friend, as though you reckoned I'd do the same for you, and as though you really enjoyed my company. And you proved that that was true because the next week when I had some money again and I didn't need help, you asked me and the kids over for dinner and you sat and listened to my story. And you shared your story with me. You became my friend instead of just another do-gooder.

“Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; For I was a stranger,

I was lonely. Even though I was living in one of the most populated areas of North Georgia, I knew nobody who cared about me and I had nobody I could really call a friend. I thought my English was passable when I moved here but I found it very hard to understand what people are saying and to follow a conversation. I mean, I couldn't work out what someone meant when he said, "He's country as a bowl of grits." And, “Is he’in yore kin?” or “That dog don't hunt.” I guess there was still a lot I had to learn about the manners in this place. I didn't really know how to make friends here, I didn't understand the sense of humor and I didn't know what to say or how to behave, and that makes you feel pretty uncomfortable. No one wants to know you when you don't fit in and when nobody wants to know you, you never will. But you were different; you offered me your hand and you called me "friend". You were patient with me when I didn't understand things and you took the time to explain and to help me to feel comfortable. You introduced me to your circle of friends and together you gave me time and companionship. You took the time to ask about me and about my home. A few of you helped me with all the paperwork and the immigration department so my family and I could be reunited. You got personally involved instead of leaving it to the professionals. You made it clear that your homes were open to me and together you made me feel loved, accepted and valued; you gave me a people, a family, a home.

“Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; For I was cold

and homeless, because a property development company had bought the trailer park where I lived and several others in the area, and rather than maintain them they had let them fall into ruin until they were ordered to close them down. The developer wanted to demolish them anyway to make way for a new shopping center, and I, along with my girlfriend and our baby and many other people, were evicted. There was no where else for us to go because this was happening all over the area, not enough alternative low cost housing was being provided, people didn’t want “that” kind of development in their neighborhood. But you took a personal interest and found us a spare room until we could find a suitable place to go. Then you, and some of your friends got together and organized a network of people who had spare rooms and could do the same when necessary, and you helped us to deal with real estate agents and landlords so that we could get a small apartment to live in. You put your own reputation on the line when you lobbied the government and the county commission and the developers, calling for them to act quickly to ensure that the supply of low cost housing were maintained so that our story would not be repeated over and over again.

“Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; For I was sick.

I was scared and I was scarred, inside and out. I ran away from my family when I was 12 years old because my daddy had been forcing me to have sex with him since I was eight years old and I couldn't take it any more. But then having got away from that, the only way I could survive was to prostitute myself on the streets of Atlanta to the hundreds of men who are only too willing to part with 20 dollars for half an hour with a pubescent kid. I cringed and screamed inside every time they touched me, but you've got to eat somehow, and you've got to do something to numb the pain. Some people seem to be able to, but soon I couldn't let them touch me with their filthy grasping hands unless I was smacked off my brain, and shooting up ain't cheap so I just had to work more and more. You'd reached out to me before, but I'd turned away; you didn't belong in my world and I was sure I wasn't good enough for yours. But at 19, when I was lying in a bed in Northside Hospital dying of AIDS, you came again, and you sat with me, you talked to me, and you listened to my story, you brought me flowers and told me that you loved me. You could have just given a donation to the hospital or something but you chose to give yourself. No one had ever kissed me before without demanding sex but you kissed me on my cheek without asking anything of me, just to say you cared. And you held my hand and you cried with me and comforted me as I died.

“Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; For I was in prison.

I was arrested and, fair enough, I was guilty but it's scary and lonely in there shut off from the world. But you came and visited me, you made the effort to personally come there to see me. And then you came back with some of your friends, and you all started visiting me and some other prisoners regularly. You helped me to know that there were still some on the outside who cared about me, who respected my human dignity and recognized the image of God in me. And you worked for prison reform and for prison accountability so that I wouldn't just be brutalized by the system and come out worse than I went in.

Then the righteous will answer him,

"Lord, we can remember a lot of hungry people but when did we see you hungry and feed you? When did we see you a stranger and invite you into our circle of friends? When were you evicted and we set you up in a new place? We can remember quite a few people we put up for a week or so but I'm sure we'd remember you if you'd been at our place; I mean, those scars in your hands are pretty distinctive, we wouldn't have forgotten them. And when were you sick and dying? I remember the hospital but I don't remember seeing you there. And when were you in prison and we came to visit you?"

The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers and sisters of mine, You did it for me."

Then he will say to those on his left, “You who are cursed, depart from me; Away to the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry

when my simple paycheck didn't go the distance. And you heard about me and you said that people like me should be more responsible with our money and I'd have to wait until I got another check. And that anyway people shouldn't have kids if they can’t afford to care for them, so it was really my own fault and I'd have to live with the consequences of my own irresponsibility.

You who are cursed, depart from me; for I was a stranger

in an unfamiliar land, and you made no effort to understand. You thought that I was just ignorant and rude and that I should learn English if I want to come to this country. You said that people like me were taking jobs away from good, honest, hard working Americans. Besides, you had heard that people from my part of the world were lazy and dishonest, and were responsible for a lot of gang violence in some parts of town and so you were afraid that I'd be a bad influence on your kids so you kept your distance. Nothing I could do was ever likely to help win my way into your circle of friends.

You who are cursed, depart from me; for I was cold and homeless

when the developers evicted me so they could bulldoze the trailer park I lived in to make way for another shopping mall, then you wouldn’t have to drive as far. You said if there was a problem with homelessness, someone should form a committee and do something about it. You had seen people who'd lived in trailer parks before and you thought that they usually weren't very fine people so it was a job for a professional. And the guy who broke into your house last year and took the video and the stereo had been living in a trailer park not far away. You felt that this was not the kind of area to have trailer parks in it and so it was better for the community that they were closed down. Besides, you said, no-one can stand in the way of the market forces, and having trailer parks on prime real estate was such a waste! And you know, that shopping mall sounds like a pretty good investment.

You who are cursed, depart from me; for I was sick,

I was dying of aids. I was a shattered and broken kid who never really had a chance. And the closest you ever came to taking any notice of me was when you wrote to the county commissioners saying that you didn't feel safe to leave your car doors unlocked or walk down the streets any more and that they should do something about keeping prostitutes and drug addicts of the streets. And as for dying of AIDS I guess you figured that it wouldn't be safe to come near me and that anyway it was surely the judgment of God for my sinful lifestyle and I deserved to die alone.

You who are cursed, depart from me; for I was in prison

and did you care? No, you were pleased because you figured that society needed to be protected from people like me. You figured I had to be made to pay for my crimes, and that I needed to be taught a lesson and made an example of. You were a bit worried because the courts seemed to be getting so lenient these days and in no time at all maybe I would be back on the streets. "Doesn't deserve to be treated like a human being, throw away the key," you said, and you wrote to your local congressman to advocate the use of capital punishment.

They also will answer,

"Lord, when did we see you hungry and not feed you? We didn't know, you must have us mixed up with someone else. Well, can you get you something now perhaps? When did we see you lonely and lost in a strange culture? You were Jewish or something weren't you, we figured that the Jewish community was pretty good at looking after their own. When did we see you homeless? I can't remember ever seeing anyone who was homeless, except maybe on the news reports; You weren't one of those kids on the television with the torn jeans and tattoos or something were you? When did we see you sick or in prison and did not visit you? We'd have come for sure if we'd known you were in there. We gave some money to the hospital charity, doesn't that count for something?"

He will reply, "Get away from me, for I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least or the dirtiest or the weirdest or the sickest of these, my brothers and sisters, you did not do for me. You who are cursed, depart from me;. Away to the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels."

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
~ Matthew 25:31-46

We are given some clear guidelines on what we are called to do as followers of Christ as we seek justice, share mercy, and give generously to the work of God’s kingdom.

So as you sit down this week at your table for Thanksgiving dinner, say thank you for your family – for your children, for your brothers and sisters in Christ, even for your crazy Aunt Beth! Say thank you for the food you are about to eat – for the fried turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and rolls - even for the creamed peas. Say thank you for your warm homes, your health, your safety, and then get a good night of sleep in your own bed, because there are the least and the lost amongst us and there is work for us to do!