Tuesday November 18, 2014

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