“The less we have, the more we give. Seems absurd, but it’s the logic of love.” — Mother Teresa
Jesus’ second teaching, in today’s gospel, is directed to those giving the banquet. “When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, for blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.”
As I thought about this passage, I thought – but sometimes the poor pay you back with the only thing they have – their love and being of service.
One night last winter, as Ken and I watched the local news at our home in Florida, the story broke about a homeless man who had been beaten so badly that he was air-lifted to Tampa General Hospital. Three teenagers were arrested and admitted that they had been hired by a drug dealer to collect money from the homeless man. The next morning when I arrived at the homeless mission, where Ken and I volunteer, I was met by some pretty gloomy faces and found out that the man who was beaten and in critical condition was, Mike, one of our regular visitors. Mike had been released from prison three years prior and with the help of Pastor Dave, was trying to put his life back together. He was a big burly fellow full of life and loved the mission. That morning, the staff and volunteers formed a prayer circle and we asked God to look over Mike and let him know that he wasn’t alone. Two weeks later when I arrived at the mission, there was Mike. His eyes were still swollen, his cheek bone still broken, and teeth missing, but everyone was so happy to see him and he was more than happy to be “home.” From that day forward, Mike would always go to the coffee bar, at the mission, and fix each staff member and volunteer a cup of coffee. Every morning as I handed out bath towels, toiletries and under garments for the homeless to take a shower, Mike would call out, “Young lady, can I get you a cup of coffee.” With a big smile, he brought my coffee to me along with a small pastry or piece of fruit that was available at the coffee bar, and the only thing he asked in return was a big hug.
I think Jesus is encouraging us to get to know the poor or those in need. They are the loved children of God, just as we are. As Mother Teresa once said, “The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.” If we look around our community, do we see someone living alone, do we see a family struggling from loss due to unemployment or a fire, if we are a child in school, can we befriend a child who is bullied, can we welcome the immigrant, can we visit the lonely in a nursing home? If we look with the eyes of Jesus, we will see. One of the important legacies of Martin Luther King’s March on Washington is that Christians are to honor the least among us, the poor, the marginalized, the outcast. At God’s table everyone is invited and there is no need to jockey for position because all are equally welcome.
Sylvia Bates
