Monday of the First Week of Lent
I believe that as Christians we are called to find Christ and His message in all things- even in every day experiences. Recently I went to see the Disney movie Frozen. The animation was visually beautiful and the musical score was fabulous including the Oscar winning song “Let It Go”. But what struck me most about the movie was the story line and how it spoke about what love really means- particularly the love that Christ calls us to live. One character in the movie professes love and devotion, but acts in a completely different way. Another character shows love through acts of kindness to a stranger. Finally, one character shows immense love as she gives of herself completely in love for another. And because of this love there is redemption and healing. In today’s reading, Jesus calls us to go beyond words to love through our actions. In loving others, not only are we able to minister to their needs, but we demonstrate our love for Christ whose presence is in every person we encounter. When we act in love, not only do we profess our devotion to the Lord, but we can also be instrumental in allowing His healing and redemptive love to become a part of this troubled world. It is Christ’s love within us that allows us to share what we can with others, so we should not hold onto this love, but “Let It Go.”
In today’s reading, Jesus tells his disciples about how people will be judged “when the Son of Man comes in glory.” (Mt 25:31) He divides the sheep and the goats and rewards them or punishes them based on their actions or lack of response. It is interesting that both groups question Jesus about when they did or did not do these various acts of mercy- feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, curing the sick, welcoming the stranger, visiting those in prison. What makes the “sheep” reach out and care for others, where the “goats” do not? I believe it is the presence of Christ and His love that is deeply rooted in the lives of the “sheep”. Christ calls us to follow Him- to live our lives as He did. When I reflect on Jesus and His life, I can’t imagine that He spent a great deal of time thinking about feeding the hungry, curing the sick etc. He just did it. The love He has for each person is so great that His actions of mercy just flow from Him. His love is so instinctive; He doesn’t need to think- He just does the action at hand. As Christians, we are called to try to imitate Jesus in this way. The “sheep” that Jesus welcomes into the kingdom are those individuals that are so aware of Christ and His love in their lives, that they do acts of love and mercy spontaneously. Not only do they act with great love, but they do not even recognize this as being their action, because they know that it is the love of Christ within them that they share. Just as Christ looked beyond the differences, the “sheep” are able to reach out and love all people- even those people who may be different, or full of hate, or seemingly unlovable. Jesus’ great love, even to the point of death, was not done for His personal reward or gain. Jesus gives of himself in love for our salvation and for glorifying the Father. The “sheep” inherit the kingdom, and in the love they share they bring the kingdom of God to others. The “sheep” recognize the importance of not holding onto this love and therefore they are like Jesus and are able to “Let it Go”.
So how are we called to be like the “sheep” in today’s reading? If we are called to act like Christ in how He loves, we must first know and experience His love for us. It is difficult if not impossible to share God’s love, if you have no firsthand experience of that love. Through prayer, scripture and sacrament we become more aware of this love. If it becomes so deeply ingrained into who we are, then we begin to be able to love as Christ does. The love we share is not limited to just the people who look like us, think like us, or talk like us, but the love reaches out far beyond our narrow perspective. Again, the more we are able to practice certain behaviors, the more we are able to make these actions into regular habits. We begin to love with our thoughts, and then we love in words and actions. With time and practice it flows so naturally that we don’t even think about what we are doing- we just do it. Each person is called to live this out in his or her daily life. There are times when I become overwhelmed with the hunger, pain, homelessness, poverty, and alienation that happen in the world around me. I am only one person, so what can I do? I believe that each of us is called to respond to the needs of those who God brings to us. We cannot on our own end poverty throughout the world, but in our daily lives opportunities may arise that we can somehow aid a person who may be hungry for food, or maybe hungry for words of comfort or encouragement. Hopefully, we will be like the sheep and act with love and mercy even when we may not recognize the need that we are fulfilling. By seeking to share Christ’s love and trying to seek Christ within the people we encounter, we will be able to act selflessly like He did. In the movie Frozen, love is shown through action. It is this great gift of love that brings about ultimate healing, hope and “happily ever after.” We are not living in a Disney movie, however, living a life of Christ-like love will in fact result in our “happily ever after,” since we will join the other “sheep”, as we follow Christ in word and deed, and go off to be with the “righteous in eternal life” with Him.
"Heavenly Father, Your Son Jesus shows how we are called to love unconditionally all of those around us not only in word but in deed. May Your Spirit of Love that is within us, allow us to share this love with others, so we can share Your kingdom with the world. May our lives bring you glory as we follow Your Son. We pray this through Christ our Lord. AMEN."
- Marylynn Herchline