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Matthew 25:37-40
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.”
The light of Christ
There are several mysteries here. The first is the presence
of Christ in the man in need, the suffering woman, the neglected child. It is
not just that Jesus identifies with those in need, though he does. There is more.
Christ is present in every human being. Each is an image of
God meant to shine a light of God’s grace and beauty in this world.
The blessing of the poor lifts those weighed down by life
that the inner light of grace might shine in their eyes and hearts that they
may know and be what they are--lights of the God’s holy presence shining rays
of the Love Christ is.
This is not for them alone, but … for me … and for all who
grow weary and stagger through days lost from the joyous light of Christ
animating and lifting our hearts.
To see and know the light of Christ shining and enveloping
you from the eyes of another gives life that is Life … and joy that is Joy. It
awakens the Life within us, and we shine with the light of Christ we each are.
We need each other to be awake and alive, the light of
Christ in you awakening me, and the light in me awakening others … that the
presence of the Holy One may shine in our hearts and give light to a world
descending now into winter’s darkness.
However cold it becomes, there is a warmth within, a fire of
grace and eternal love, the very image of the Eternal Love at the depth of
every human soul. The struggles of life can beat the fire down, but its embers
are ever there, awaiting the spark of grace to ignite the fire into the light
of Christ, the true self of every human being.
Shine the light you are, so alive and crazy beautiful, and
the Christ light within you and the hearts of others will warm you through
winter’s coldest blast.
Pr. David L. Miller
