A Framework for Faith/Spiritual Practice

To people, inscrutable: he was a shelter to the naked, he was a teat to the poor.

  - Dallan Forgaill, Amra Choluimb Chille (Irish, 6th century)

"And the king will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"

  - Matthew 25.40

Who are the "least of these"? Certainly the poor, the downcast and dispossessed, prisoners, the lonely and disturbed. But what about the people all around us, the people we encounter every day of our lives? Are they deserving of the simple, constant, and genuine love of Jesus Christ, spoken through our words and demonstrated in our lives?

Of course they are. It's just that they don't seem to need anything from us, so we tend to leave them alone. We don't reach out to initiate conversations, just to take an interest in a fellow human being. We don't pray for them very much, if at all. And we don't look for ways of extending the touch of grace to them in the ordinary course of our daily actions and interactions.

But why not? Aren't we as fully Christians - "Christ-dwelling-in-us-ones" - in those everyday moments as we are when we're at church or helping in some program reaching out to the least of these? What do we know about people's hidden fears, unfulfilled aspirations, shattered dreams, and daily struggles? Do we have these? Of course. So do the people around us.

Jesus would know what is in every person and be able to reach out perfectly in every situation. We can't know and so we reach out imperfectly, when we do at all, and so sometimes we make a little mess of things. But it is far better to have extended a hand to help or offered a word to encourage, and been rebuffed, than to continuing holding back on that love which yearns to flow from us like a river of living water.

Are we everyday Christians, or just Sunday believers? Do we follow Jesus into our everyday lives or just into our Bible study group? Do we care about the least of these we meet each day, even though they may be sending messages saying, "Hey, look at me; I'm doin' fine!"?

Jesus lives in the moments, words, and deeds of our lives, or He does not live in us at all. Keep an eye out for the least of these today, will you?

Today at The Fellowship of Ailbe

Well, I didn't much like the President's speech last night, and today's ReVision explains why.

Thank you once again for your gifts to The Fellowship of Ailbe. We are a growing company of men reaching out to encourage and support pastors and church leaders in their walk with the Lord and their ministry. Your gifts enable us to expand our services to them and to you. You can donate by clicking the Donate button, or by sending your tax-deductible gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 100 Lamplighter Ct., Hamilton, VA 20158. Thank you.

T. M. Moore, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.