Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Remember the Little Ones
St. Matthew 25:31-46“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.’ ”
A few years ago, during a trip, I was at the San Francisco airport, waiting at the gate for my flight. A person who sat next to me, waiting for a different flight, noticed that I was a priest because of the cassock I was wearing. He started to ask me about who I was and what I do as a priest. I received an opportunity to speak to the passenger for a few minutes, whereby I was able to speak about my ministry and faith. He was hearing about Christian faith and Jesus Christ for the first time. The announcement came to begin boarding, and my boarding group was called. Though we had a very brief conversation, it ended by him saying to me, “We need a little bit more Jesus around here.”
As we read this passage, we listen to Jesus speak about the climax of judgement. The preceding parables point towards the need to be ready, in terms of the master returning. In our Holy Qurbana liturgy, we pray: “O Lord, we remember Your death. We celebrate Your resurrection and we await Your second coming. May Your blessing rest upon us all.” In the post-resurrection period, as we are about to meditate upon the ascension of our Lord, we are reminded that He will come again. This faith and hope are what inspire us to get ready. When Christ comes, where will we find ourselves? Will we be in communion with Him, or will we be distant from Him? What will be the outcome of our labor for His kingdom?
As Christians, many times, we fail to recognize the need to act in urgency. In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians 1:27, “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Christ has been revealed, and we continue to make His presence known through the apostolic ministry. Even though Christ is in us, we fail to realize the God given potential of being His messengers and witnesses wherever we are, and especially to people who have not heard of Christ or the gospel. The Holy Spirit presents opportunities for us to talk about faith, and to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and to remind the world that He is Lord and God. We should not fear. We have the potential to win souls for the Kingdom of God. If we are fulfilling our God- given purpose, we have no need to fear, but we will find hope and peace, and have the assurance, which will only be strengthened when we make efforts to share the presence of Christ.
Our church is a mission church. We have the motto, “Lighted to Lighten,” symbolizing the light of Jesus Christ, which we have received, and in which we operate as the body of Christ, the holy church. In St. John 12:36, Jesus says, “While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” Let us be the light of Christ, and bring the glory of this mystery, which has already been revealed. As a part of our spiritual discipline, let us learn to do things not out of compulsion, but out of our love and devotion to the Lord.
As we read this passage, we listen to Jesus speak about the climax of judgement. The preceding parables point towards the need to be ready, in terms of the master returning. In our Holy Qurbana liturgy, we pray: “O Lord, we remember Your death. We celebrate Your resurrection and we await Your second coming. May Your blessing rest upon us all.” In the post-resurrection period, as we are about to meditate upon the ascension of our Lord, we are reminded that He will come again. This faith and hope are what inspire us to get ready. When Christ comes, where will we find ourselves? Will we be in communion with Him, or will we be distant from Him? What will be the outcome of our labor for His kingdom?
As Christians, many times, we fail to recognize the need to act in urgency. In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians 1:27, “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Christ has been revealed, and we continue to make His presence known through the apostolic ministry. Even though Christ is in us, we fail to realize the God given potential of being His messengers and witnesses wherever we are, and especially to people who have not heard of Christ or the gospel. The Holy Spirit presents opportunities for us to talk about faith, and to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and to remind the world that He is Lord and God. We should not fear. We have the potential to win souls for the Kingdom of God. If we are fulfilling our God- given purpose, we have no need to fear, but we will find hope and peace, and have the assurance, which will only be strengthened when we make efforts to share the presence of Christ.
Our church is a mission church. We have the motto, “Lighted to Lighten,” symbolizing the light of Jesus Christ, which we have received, and in which we operate as the body of Christ, the holy church. In St. John 12:36, Jesus says, “While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” Let us be the light of Christ, and bring the glory of this mystery, which has already been revealed. As a part of our spiritual discipline, let us learn to do things not out of compulsion, but out of our love and devotion to the Lord.
Prayer
Lord, help us to practice discernment in our spiritual life, and to understand our God-given purpose, to be your hands and feet in this world. Help us to keep up in faith and hope, as we patiently await Your second coming. Let all glory, honor, and praise be unto thee, O Triune God, both now and forever. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
We are provided many opportunities to live out the faith, and to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. All of this is with the trajectory of the Kingdom of God in mind, and the hope that we will meet the Lord again. Are we ready? If not, what are we doing to get ready?
Rev. Dennis Abraham
Vicar, Austin Mar Thoma Church & San Antonio Mar Thoma Congregation
Rev. Dennis Abraham
Vicar, Austin Mar Thoma Church & San Antonio Mar Thoma Congregation