When Did We See Thee Hungry?
.
Matthew 25:34-40
Then the King will say to those at his right hand, "Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and
give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?" And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me."
I am fairly certain God has a sense of humor! I hope no one is offended by that statement, but I’m pretty sure it’s true. You see I have spent most of my life (beginning in childhood) trying to live out these verses – very literally. I have talked to people others would consider unapproachable. I have fed homeless men, women and children, in soup kitchens, shelters and in my own church. Our family regularly donates food to a local food bank. And I have literally never met a “stranger.” Just ask my kids! They gave up being embarrassed by my tendency to strike up a conversation with anybody, anywhere. Oh yes, we donate clothes to Good Will, and we’ve even been known to shop at the Good Will Store in search of work jeans, household items and items with potential for use in my various craft projects. Oh . . . we recycle and re-use, we try to take care of the environment . . .
The litany could go on and on . . . And all of this is good stuff. Really, it is all what we consider the minimum requirement – My parents taught me how to live like this. I can remember my Mom working with a program to teach adults to read long before it was “politically correct.” Talk about the least and the last . . . And some of my earliest memories are of my Dad professing human rights over corporate profit, as well as individual responsibility for how our government operates. So I cut my teeth on social justice. A couple of years ago, though, God decided I needed to kick it up a notch.
At a training session I was attending to become a Lay Speaker in the Methodist Church, I met several individuals who worked in prison ministry. Now I don’t know about you, but actually going into a prison had never crossed my mind prior to hearing these conversations over the dinner table. Without fail, every table I chose to sit at for a meal throughout the entire weeken, someone there began talking about their church’s prison ministry or their own involvement in a prison ministry of some kind. I really put it on the “back burner” after the training and got on with my life. But God kept exposing me to individuals who talked about prison ministries on a fairly regular basis! Can you tell where I’m going with this?
Earlier this year I went with a group to one of the men’s maximum security prisons to participate in a worship service led by the pastor who accompanied us. It was the most phenomenal experience. I loved it. I wasn’t afraid at all. I felt as if I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Circumstances did not allow for me to return there, though I would love to. I now have begun the process to be approved as a volunteer at a women’s prison nearby so I can go with a group who leads a Wednesday night Bible study there. I went for the first time this week. And again I felt as if I was exactly where I was meant to be.
The odd thing though . . .
I was ministered to! I realized that the Holy Spirit has been acting in me all this time to take me to a deeper level of understanding of these words – and myself. Each of the 16 women who entered the room hugged me as they came in and introduced themselves, never even having met me! They were so appreciative of my attendance – it was unconditional acceptance and love. And as I looked around that room, and heard about a couple of the stories, and watched them throughout our time together I realized I am those women. I realized God intends to teach me humility. And to take me to a place in my heart and mind where I have never been: to the place where true Christ-like love dwells. Where judgment and prejudice and misconceptions are replaced by God’s grace—not only in their lives, but in mine as well.
Yes, God knows our hearts. I’m not saying that how little or how much I do or you do, or anyone else does, nor how any of us serve is better than another. What I discovered is that it is more important what is in our hearts. Once I obeyed God and entered a prison building, He let me know I had heard correctly. There are lessons inside those walls He wants me to learn. And I can hardly wait to learn them – even if they are painful, even if they make me see things in myself I don’t like, even if it means I have to re-evaluate my whole life.
I long for God to both use me in ministry and to teach me what He needs me to know through this experience.
My prayer today is that you will be open and obedient to God’s calling on your life. And that you will eagerly live out that calling.
Mary
