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The Least of
these...
Matthew 25:40
"Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are
members of my family, you did it to me."
Throughout his life Jesus
taught us the importance of loving one another. In the Gospels the
Pharisees and other religious leaders criticize Jesus because he
fails to keep the traditions. Instead, he shows us that what is
lawful and good in the sight of God is our love for one another.
Jesus emphasized this in
the well-known story of the ‘Good Samaritan’ when he asked,
"Who is our neighbor?"
Our neighbor’s identity
is not based upon location, race, religion, or wealth; our neighbor
is anyone needing help. It is the prisoner who has no friend, the
poor person who can’t afford the essentials of life, the lonely
heart who needs our attention and love.
Jesus calls the Golden Rule
the second greatest commandment. Imagine that! Of everything that
God has instructed us, to "Love your neighbor as yourself"
is surpassed only by loving the Lord our God. It is that love, the
love of God, that we have to offer to the "the least of
these." It is God’s love that allow us to respond to our
neighbor’s needs. By loving each other, not only are we following
Christ’s command, but we display the image of the very God we are
created in.
Creator, remind us that we
are made in your image, and as we do unto others, so we do unto you.
Amen. Matthew 25:37-40, Genesis 9:6, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:29:37
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