A Stranger, Hungry and Thirsty

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by 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, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46

This Advent Journey

Shoving and pushing crowds desperate
for bargains for happy families hoping
to fill the home with smiles head down
anxious and worried in abundance failing
to see God's outstretched hand.

Late nights early morning and layaway
counting change for the bus rocking
a grandma and a small child shiver
the cold is not new set-in deep
in bones and frozen feet we pray
and miss the voice pleading with us
see the child, my child.

Lights sparkle mink coats and diamonds
so much plush and so little softness
the sound of aching and pain covered
by a cell phone and earphones
world shut out and God knocking
to be let in.

A groaning board expensive wine
complaints about slow service
and whining about how it used to be
when people were in their place
and poverty was kept far away
shaking heads at the street tramps
desolate right outside the window
the Christ child draws a picture in the steam
and someone calls for the police.

God is calling, knocking, aching
this day this season for us to see
abundance as a gift freely given
God asking us to share to see
to stop and welcome the child
the face and heart of God.