The least of these

One of my favorite scriptures is Matthew 25:34-40. In this scripture, Jesus talks about doing for the least of these is the same as doing for him. I love this because to me it says that we are to care for others whether we like them or not. We are to care for others whether we agree with their choices or not. The difficult part of this scripture is figuring out who the least of these are. Usually when I read this scripture I think of the least of these being the poor people in the world that are not as fortunate as me. But I think we are all the least of these at some point in our lives. There are times in our lives where we are needy, sick, imprisoned, hungry or thirsty.
This idea came to me after taking food to friend who has cancer. I say this not to pat myself on the shoulder for doing something good but because this friend having cancer has impacted so many of the lives that I work with. It has shown me a different side of these people. In the spring, when a fellow teacher was diagnosed with cancer, my school came together. We had this amazing faculty meeting where everyone got involved in figuring out ways to help her. By emailing, sending cards, texts, taking food, and taking her to the doctor. There wasn't a person in the room who didn't have a part in this. God was present at this school in this faculty meeting. We ended the meeting in prayer. It was amazing. The whole group held hands and prayed. Yes we were praying for healing for another teacher but we all were healed from this prayer. We have continued to be healed and strengthened in this experience. It makes me so proud to be a part of a faculty that comes through for another person. I am in awe of the God that I serve. He is providing healing for this friend and he is providing strength for the rest of us. When I left the teacher's house, she told me that our prayers and actions were lifting her up. The thing that I thought of instantly was this scripture. I thought about how much it lifted me up to take her food and to visit with her. We are all healed through feeding the hungry, giving clothes to the naked, giving water to the thirsty, inviting the stranger in, visiting the sick.
I encourage you to look for those who are the least of these and offer them a hand. By providing for them, you are being the light that we're called to be.

Matthew 25:34-40

³⁴"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵For 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, ³⁶I 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? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

⁴⁰"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'