Matthew 25:31-40 (NRSV)
Jesus said, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, `Come, you that 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 something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, 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 was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' "
Blog Reflection
Now where have we heard this Gospel most recently? Oh! I remember. This was the Gospel reading for the Last Sunday of Pentecost also called Christ the King.
Now we read it again on the commemoration of a King and Queen who put these words of Jesus into action. King Kamehameha & Queen Emma of Hawaii spent the capital of their rule by serving those who were most poor and marginalized.
Within a year of ascending the throne in 1855, the twenty-year-old King Kamehameha IV and his bride, Emma Rooke, embarked on the path of altruism and unassuming humility for which they have been revered by their people. The year before, Honolulu, and especially its native Hawaiians, had been horribly afflicted by smallpox. The people, accustomed to a royalty which ruled with pomp and power, were confronted instead by a king and queen who went about, "with notebook in hand," soliciting from rich and poor the funds to build a hospital. Queen's Hospital, named for Emma, is no the largest civilian hospital in Hawaii. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 706).
As I read this biography of their rule, it touched me to read what the King and Queen did in a time of great sickness and poverty.
However, I could not resist the urge to compare and contrast that period of history to our own present time. The Occupy movements all over the world are calling for a greater economic and social equality for all people. While much of the media, both conservative and more liberal politicians and the Wall Street execs continue to ignore the situation that has brought us to this point, there is a need for all of them to walk out into the street and "take notes" to see how and where they can best serve the 99%. The Occupy movements are calling out from the pain and destitution of those who have lost their jobs, homes, education funding and more because of the economic inequality that the 99% are living with. The protestors are calling all of us as well as the 1% to stop ignoring what has been really happening and begin to address the need for systematic change so as to bring hope where there is such desperation.
As I look at the reading for today's feast and read about King Kamehameha and Queen Emma and how they took so seriously the need to serve the sick and the needy, it is a reminder that "`Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' "
We tend to forget even in this 21st Century that when one part of our society is hurting, everyone in society is hurting right along with them. When the middle class and low income people cannot rise above just getting food stamps and general assistance, with a prayer that they will be able to pay their mortgage or rent, all of society is being held down by the sickness of poverty and injustice. Jesus is there among those who suffer and hope for relief, calling on all of us to be involved in working together with other religious and social networks for fundamental change that will give people hope that they can plan a future with prosperity as a reality.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people are among those in our society who are literally aching and hoping for a brighter tomorrow. A future without religious, political and social oppression keeping LGBTQ people from discrimination in employment, marriage equality, protection against hate crimes and the opportunity to serve in the Church and society without being unfairly stereotyped and scapegoated.
David Usher of the newly formed Center for Marriage Policy recently made the claim that "Gay marriage is unconstitutional Because it Gives Women and Unfair Advantage." When an unjust and ignorant comment like that is made, the individual is not only talking about opposing marriage equality and showing sexism towards women. This individual is talking about Jesus in the LGBT person and the woman who is insulted. Rather than use the great gift of knowing God that David has been given to bring healing and reconciliation to people already sorely afflicted, David and other Christianists like him seek to bring shame and pain upon LGBTQ people.
The same degradation is played out when Muslims and Jews are targeted by laws that dehumanize them.
When Christians do not take the example of Jesus and the King and Queen of Hawaii to do good, the Name of God becomes profaned.
Psalm 146: 8 reads: "The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down."
May we all pray for ourselves and each other. That we will have our own eyes opened to the needs of Jesus in those who are different from ourselves. Let our prayer be for those who hold positions of authority in both civil government and religious leadership to come out of their need for domination and power, to serve the needs of those who wait for hope that can only come from God as we serve Jesus in others who wait for us to love them.
Prayers
O Sovereign God, who raised up (King) Kamehameha (IV) and (Queen) Emma to be rulers in Hawaii, and inspired and enabled them to be diligent in good works for the welfare of their people and the good of your Church: Receive our thanks for their witness to the Gospel; and grant that we, with them, may attain to the crown of glory that never fades away; through Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Men, Holy Women, Celebrating the Saints, page 707).
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (First Sunday of Advent, Book of Common Prayer, page 211).
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Poor and Neglected, Book of Common Prayer, page 826).
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, page 826).
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