Matthew 25:34
‘Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
37 ‘Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison and go to visit you?”
40 ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Even in post-Christian Britain, society’s values are still undergirded by this kind of thinking which comes from the gospel. Care for the needy, compassion for the disadvantaged, justice for the oppressed, welcome for the stranger. Of course, neither we as individuals nor society as a whole always manages to follow these ideals. The alternative is putting myself first, at the expense of others. The parable of the Good Samaritan shows us that our care should not be confined to those we know, but should be extended to strangers. Does the love of God truly motivate me? Do I truly let Jesus determine the way I behave?
Father, teach me how to love others, including strangers.
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