Mother Teresa reminded us, “Jesus announced which will be the criteria of the final judgment of our lives: we will be judged according to love. Judged according to the love we have shown the poor, with whom God identifies. ‘You did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:31-46)”
I had food and drink. I had clothes and shelter. I was not in prison, but I sure was sick. Perhaps, for a while, I qualified as one of the least of Jesus’ brethren. I sure didn’t look like Jesus. I didn’t even look like myself! My mind was often so dull I couldn’t think. Sometimes, I probably forgot to say ‘Thank you’ to those that took care of me, but that didn’t stop them.
I am not used to being grouped with the hungry, the thirsty, the strangers, the naked, and the imprisoned, but I am not ashamed. Our common trait is that we are in need. Some may say we brought these miseries on ourselves. Maybe I did do something that brought cancer into my life. Maybe my faith was too weak to believe God would heal me. But those that cared for me passed no judgment. Those that loved me loved in spite of my weaknesses.
In Jesus’ parable, the righteous were quite surprised to learn that when they took care of the sick, fed the hungry, welcomed the stranger, and visited the prisoner, they actually served Christ. How can this be? How can Jesus be sick or weak or misplaced? Oh that we could realize what Mother Teresa and her fellow workers saw to be true: “We should not serve the poor ‘like they were’ Jesus. We should serve the poor ‘because they are’ Jesus.”
As the Son of God came in disguise the first time – the baby of a peasant girl and the son of a carpenter – so He comes in disguise today. Shall we recognize Him? How many times have I missed Him? How often could I have served my Savior by recognizing Him in the hurting? Now that I know a little more about suffering; now that I know what it means to be helpless, I think I see the beauty of God’s call. He chose to love me in my sinfulness and shame. He chose to rescue me when I could not help myself. Will I now choose to love Him?
The words (and actions) of Mother Teresa challenge me in a healthy way: “Jesus continues to live His passion. He continues to fall, poor and hungry, just like He fell on the way to Calvary. Are we at His side to volunteer to help Him? Do we walk next to Him with our sacrifice, with our piece of bread – real bread – to help Him get over His weakness?” “I see God in everyone, and especially in those who suffer.” “Jesus is everything to me.”