Brittney Ford
Matthew 25: 35-40
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Reflection:

The least of these. This is the famous line that stands out in this passage. Often we think of the least of these and our minds immediately jump to the person experiencing homelessness on a busy street corner or orphaned children in developing countries. 

But let’s bring it closer to home…perhaps inside our own homes. Haven’t we at times found ourselves so spiritually hungry that we badly needed someone else to provide nourishment and sustenance? Haven’t we sometimes found ourselves desperately trying to squeeze into the ill-fitting garments the world has sewn for us instead of our perfectly tailored clothes of righteousness? And perhaps in the quiet moments of our lives, we get a glimpse of the ways we’re caught in prisons of our own making. It’s easy to count ourselves out of this “least of these” category, when in fact we need another person to actually be Christ’s hands and feet for us.

When my children were toddlers, I was an exhausted, stretched-too-thin-with-permanent-bags-under-my-eyes, working, full-time mom. The days were long, and yes they were sweet, but I was tired in every possible way. During this season, my neighbor and I would go walking at night after we got our kids down. We weren’t trying to get in miles of rigorous cardio. I think for us it was more of an escape—a chance to have some uninterrupted time together where no one needed us. We would use the time to vent about our stress, express our worries, or just talk in the sacred way that only girlfriends can.

The least of these. My neighbor gave me the gift of this time together and though she may not have realized it, I felt like I was in one of those least-of-these situations. I needed her friendship to bring me back to life, to give me something to look forward to at the end of a long day, and to give me a sense of belonging outside of my mom-life. Our time together was nourishment for my soul.

No, I wasn’t homeless or hungry in the physical sense. But I was desperate for the support that only another person can provide. Take a look around you today – who do you notice that might be in a very well hidden least-of-these situation? Is there someone you can take a walk around the neighborhood with? Can you drop a batch of warm homemade cookies on your friend’s porch just because? What about paying for the person’s coffee behind you in the drive-thru? Even a meaningful, friendly greeting to a stranger can go a long way. These days, we could all use an encouraging word or a random act of kindness. Let’s take care of one another. What can you do today for the least of these?

Prayer:
God, open our eyes today to see the least of these in all areas of our lives- spiritually and physically. Let us offer a kind gesture to someone that needs extra love today. We love because you have shown us the greatest of love through your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to do your will today. Amen.