The Face of God is in Your Neighbor

Literature, from Bugs Bunny to Martin the Cobbler, has many stories about not recognizing the Good in others. Why not? One of our dearest nightmares has been passing by the Friendly–the Holy–on our way to our personal agendas. On this weekend, often called the Reign of Christ, we’re called to the pinnacle of the Christian Year when we celebrate the omnipotence of Jesus as God places all Creation under Christ’s control. Scriptural lessons to be read emphasize this ultimate Lordship.

EZEKIEL 34:11-16 illuminates the prophet’s constant message about how YHWH wishes to care for the People, the “sheep of God’s Pasture”. And our part of this care involves seeing the Holy in all things, binding up the wounded and feeding the hungry, providing a safe place and sheltering the vulnerable. These are creatures being rescued from the Valley of the Shadow of Death each day, by Divine command. Those claiming the Name of God are called to embrace a discipline of justice, treating all with equity and ensuring that this equity is realized within the System.

Who wrote the Letter to the EPHESIANS, and does it matter? Verses 1:15-23 speak about the power ascribed to Christ as he was seated at God’s right hand, “far above any rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named…” As Jesus is progenitor of the Church, it’s thereby expected that this sacred community would maintain an aura of justice and equity, even though most of “culture” doesn’t recognize the living Christ among them… Church members have been joined to Christ’s body to enter into the world and its brokenness with reconciliation and wholeness.

MATTHEW 25:31-40 is one of those familiar parables that everyone quotes but does nothing about. N.B.–this ISN’T about who are sheep and who are goats!! Not for us to judge. But it IS about recognizing the Christ in the homeless, naked, hungry or imprisoned! Most of us fall into the group that says with amazement, “WHEN did we see you in need, and helped you?” and then, under our breath, “Oh! That was YOU?” Attempting to follow these acts of love, we exult in the knowledge that now, even now, God’s Church is in charge “though the Wrong seems oft so strong.” Who’s that knocking at my door?

We’re reminded by Karyn L. Wiseman (in FEASTING on the WORD, A 4:319) that these passages “are ripe with images of compassion and accountability to show not only how we are loved by God, but also what immense responsibilities we have to share that gracious gift of care and compassion with others of the flock, whether in distant places or our immediate neighborhood.” Just a minute, just a minute, I’ll be right there.

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Please join us every Tuesday as we’re examined by scripture lessons assigned to the upcoming weekend; at horacebrownking.com