Monday of the First Week of Lent 2019

“Lord, when did we see you…?” Jesus’ parable about the final judgment assumes everyone assembled before the glorious Son of Man saw hungry, thirsty, naked, and ill folks, strangers and prisoners. Those called to stand on his right noticed persons in pain-and responded with compassion. Those on his left viewed the same sufferers-and looked away.

The dying Rev. Fred Rogers mumbled a surprising concern to his wife as he faded into a coma. Would he be included among the sheep welcomed into the kingdom? “Mister Rogers” taught children 921 lessons about neighborliness over a 33-year span on PBS. Why would he ask such a question? Another white minister, the Rev. James Reeb from a Boston Unitarian church, arrived in Selma two days after a call for volunteers immediately following Bloody Sunday on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. That very night a gang of white men cracked his skull. He died 54 years ago on March 11.

These ministers and billions of other persons over the ages responded to the needs of their sisters and brothers as the eyes of their hearts showed them the way. Some may have recognized the suffering Christ; many very likely didn’t. Imagine their joyful surprise when they each heard, “You loved your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. Come!”