Hello dear
Yesterday, June 20, was World Refugee Day. One of the churches with which I am connected, arranged to join a special event to mark the day. My sister-friend invited me along; and as I reflect on the memorial (sparsely attended perhaps due to Covid-19), today’s Holy Nougat is fresh in my mind –
“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. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 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 25:35-36, 40 NLT
The memorial was simple: the names, country of origin, and death facts of each refugee who’ve died en route/in Europe were read (where known, otherwise their situation) – ALL 40,000+ of them – for almost 12 hours. And in the process of naming these persons, they were re-humanized and re-membered. Gone; but not forgotten.
Those persons are a vital part of the ‘least of these’ mentioned in Jesus’ reference. It is note worthy that we are strongly encouraged to minister to them in the outworking of our faith. Whether as living sacrifices, as our reasonable service, out of fear or love; we are called to be agents of Hope to those on the margins. Perhaps it is a challenge for some of us, as we have never experienced hunger, thirst, other-ness, nakedness, lack, or debilitating illness and been ignored. But for many migrants, refugees, or even internally displaced persons; that is their reality. Something must have placed them in the vulnerable – are we listening, or are we busy being judges?
The irony is that Christ did ALL that for each of us. We might not have recognized it as all this; but He did – we were hungry for God’s grace; thirsting for Living Water, naked and sick with sin and imprisoned by our lifestyles, and we have NO rights to Heaven; we should be left to rot in our messed-up humanity. Cause we each have issues!
Mercy, God’s love, God’s unending grace said No. And the rest was Calvary. Our God, connected with us On Our Level so we could Remember our connection to God and be Re-Membered to God’s household of faith and glory. And in the process of re-membering; hunger, thirst, nakedness, sickness, alienation, and imprisonment were permanently removed from our status!
What profound Love
How do we respond to such love on This Side of God’s household of faith? Nothing done until we do likewise.
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
