A new compassion

Matthew 25: 31 - 46

Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers you do to me

This passage ties in well with my reading of "Abba's Child" for this month. Brennan Manning writes about how, knowing God's love and compassion, we can extend the same to those around us. Even to those who think differently from us, who annoy us and whom we don't like. It is easy enough to do 'good deeds' for the likeable and the receptive. It is quite another to extend that help to the needy yet sometimes offensive people. I guess that's the challenge to those of us who have become smug that we are already doing many of the things Jesus mentions here.

His words are always challenging. I have to check myself when I feel too satisfied with my 'performance'. The easy people to reach out to probably do more for my ego than anything else. This Lent, "Who is Jesus inviting us to touch? Who are the people we look through or ignore or dismiss as non persons? Who are the people in whose eyes we fail to see pain or brokenness?

We may indeed meet Christ in those situations. Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers you do to me.