Today’s missive is a reflection on Jesus’ words in Matthew 25. The passage for reflection comes first this week - the piercing words spoken by Jesus. Today’s poem comes next. It is my attempt of using poetry to look through the eyes of the “least of these” that Jesus mentioned. It is for those who are lonely, hurting, afraid, hungry, abused, homeless, or oppressed, especially those who have suffered because of the ravages of war. The prayer is last and is for us - for God to forgive us for not seeing the hurt, and to not only giving us eyes to see, but hearts to act. I would say “enjoy,” but that is not the focus of this Monday Missive.
A Passage of Scripture: For Reflection
“’For 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 took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’ “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger and you didn’t take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.’ “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help you?’ “Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ — Matthew 25:35-45 CSB
A Poem: Clickety-Clack
Traveling clickety-clack, Clickety-clack, Down some lonely path, Slower than lfe itself; Crossing forgotten outposts Of life that was. Leaving behind Deserted dreams In arid aroyos, That start anywhere And end nowhere. Clickety-clack, Clickety-clack, Travel on, Travel on; With words No one hears. With angst, No one sees; With hurts No one feels. Clickety-clack, Clickety-clack, Moving on, Moving on. Chaos creeps in, Like a thief, Stealing the silence Of yesterday’s hope. Clickety-clack, Clickety-clack, Life goes on, Life goes on; I know this road; Where it’s been Many times. Where does it go now?
A Prayer: Forgive Me For Not Seeing
Lord, forgive me For not seeing Beyond the externals; For not recognizing The pain of others; Forgotten hope, Housed in hurt, Waiting for someone, To listen, To care. Lord, make me like Jesus, Seeing into people’s hearts, Hearing their pain, Touching their lives, Sharing the hope, Found only in you.