Before I Forget...

"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist"
      `Dom Helder Camara, former bishop of Recife, Brazil.
"Whatever you do for the least of my people you do for me." ~ Jesus

     Before the year 311 A.D., it was a crime to be a Christian in the Roman Empire. What was there about this early group of Christians that disturbed the government? Like us, they believed Jesus was their Savior. Like us, they were people of the gospel. They were, for the most part, just poor people who found hope as followers of Jesus Christ. But there was something new and radical about these Christians who loved one another. The early church was an age of martyrs. They were willing to die for their Lord, Jesus.
  Today, the last Sunday of the church year, is the feast of Christ the King. Maybe today's gospel from Matthew 25:31-46, about the final judgment, might give us some insight, almost 2000 years later, why those early Christians were a thorn in the flesh of the government. As we listened to Jesus talk about the hungry, the thirsty, strangers, the naked, the sick, and prisoners, what is he saying to all his disciples for all generations? The early Christians took his word seriously.   Do we?
Today's gospel is telling us that He is a king for the poor.  All people are important to Jesus, especially the lost, the strays, the wounded, and the weak. And when he meets us all in the final kingdom he'll wonder how we treated the weak, the lost, and the poor. Jesus Christ is a strange king. Most kings were interested/concerned about collecting taxes from their subjects. Most kings were the richest in their realms. Not this Jesus, he is the poor but extremely generous. How do we honor him? His own words say it all: "Whatever you do for the least of my people, you do for me."
Who are the least in our modern society in the year 2002? Are there people he expects us to care for and speak up for?
I was on welfare and you... 
    What do we really know about human beings on welfare? 39% are White. 37% African American. 18% Hispanic. How can we really help people on welfare?
I was a child of a single parent on welfare and you... 
   Should children of a welfare parent be in daycare?  What does a child need to grow up to be a healthy adult? 
I was a full-time, full-year, minimum wage earner and you... 
     How much does a person in Minnesota who works full time in a minimum wage job make?  How much of the federal budget is spent on welfare?  Did you know that it is less than 1%?  And the state budget for welfare? 2-3%!  In the early 90's, US citizens spent about the same amount on cruise ships and theme parks as the federal government spent on AFDC.  Why are there so many misconceptions about welfare?  How does Jesus call us to act towards and for the people on welfare? 
I was a homeless child...
I was a homeless person with a disability...
I was a homeless senior citizen...
I was a homeless mentally ill person.... 
     I was homeless because I couldn't find affordable housing, and you... What does Jesus call us to do for the homeless?  Does our government invest more in the middle and upper classes?  Do you know?  Affordable housing but NIMBY... NOT IN MY BACKYARD!  Do we Christians place property values above helping persons in need?  Speaking of visiting prisoners, where should we put ex-offenders?
I lacked basic health insurance and you...
I was poor and unable to afford prescriptions and you... 
     Does the health care system in the US need reform?  Given that healing was one of Jesus' primary ministries, how do so many Christians justify the denial of health care to many persons?  How much money does a CEO of a health insurance agency make these days?
      I am a new non-white immigrant in the US and you....
     What challenges do immigrants face when they come to the US?  Should we oppose immigration of persons who are typically hard-working, family-oriented, and frugal?  Are you preparing your children, if you are white, to be the minority in the US?
     Difficult questions, aren't they?  I don't have the answers.  I know that in our parish we are all over the map about the issues.  Jesus was always concerned about the poor and the Church has always been an advocate for the poor.  The British writer, G.K. Chesterton once wrote:  "A saint is one who exaggerates what the world neglects."  Since, by our baptism, we are called to holiness, what do we Christians need to exaggerate in the name of Christ, Our King? 
     Make sure you wish our neighbors at Christ the King Lutheran a happy day!       

Fr. Bill