It's not always the big stuff that matters

Matthew 25:38-40

"When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you? When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."

Have you received thanks for something that you didn't know you did (or said)? It has happened to me from time to time....somebody will refer to a word or a gesture that, for them, had a positive meaning. It will be described as an action that made a significant difference...yet I have no recollection of it. Philosophically speaking, I suppose it stands to reason that if there have been times I had a positive impact without knowing it there must also have been times when I was unaware of a negative impact of something I did or said...right?

Every day we see invitations to extend gentleness and compassion. There are always the clear cases of pain or poverty or injustice that speak to us in bold cries. There is also the suffering that may be just below the surface of what you "see" when you encounter another.

We don't need to devote our time and energy to judging for ourselves what deeds are the ones that will increase our effectiveness as Christ's servant. If we try to scrutinize our actions and categorize them into major and minor acts of service we may get "stuck" in a cycle that will keep us fixated on ourselves. It really isn't up to us. Clearly the gospel lesson says that any and all time we ease the pain and suffering of another we are participating in Christ's miracle of healing.

Whether we are visiting a prisoner on Death Row or offering a gentle word to somebody paralyzed by fear or depression...whether we are selling all we have and travelling across the world as a missionary...or setting aside our self-determined schedule to listen to the memories of an aging relative...

It is not a matter of degree or spectacle... it is a matter of humility, availabilty and selflessness.

Who will appear before you today...what will be the word or gesture that will sprout from Christ's love radiating from your heart? Whose life will be enhanced as a result of your presence on earth today?