Thought for the week 27th November ‘23: Tending and Caring; Justice and Peace.

On Sunday, the week before Advent, as we celebrated the feast of Christ the King, we were reminded that preparing for the return of King Jesus involves three things, reflected in the three parables in Matthew 25: watching, waiting and working.

The parable of the sheep and the goats, in particular, reminds us that our work does not need to be big or prosperous or wealth producing. Instead, the people who are commended by Jesus, the King, on the day of judgement will be those who tended to the needs of the marginal and the poor, often invisible people who may be our next door neighbours. What matters, the King seems to be saying, are little acts of kindness.

Matthew 25.31-40

‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” 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.”

As we know, that’s only half the parable. The other half does not make such easy reading. It contains a challenging judgement and condemnation for those who ignore the needs of the poor and marginal in our society. The third and fourth Marks of Mission (of the Anglican Communion) are:

• To respond to human need by loving service, and
• To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation

As Advent approaches - the season of watching, waiting and preparing for the coming of Jesus as baby and as King – may each of us be encouraged to work and pray for those in need, for justice and peace.

A Franciscan Blessing for Justice and Peace

May God bless you with discomfort…

at easy answers, hard hearts, half-truths, and superficial relationships. 

May God bless you so that you may live from deep within your heart where God’s Spirit dwells.

May God bless you with anger…

at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people.

May God bless you so that you may

work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears…

to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, 

starvation and war.

May God bless you so that you may reach out your hand

to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness

to believe that you can make a difference in this world, in

your neighbourhood, so that you will courageously try

what you don’t think you can do, but, in Jesus Christ you’ll 

have all the strength necessary.

May God bless you to fearlessly speak out about injustice,

Unjust laws, corrupt politicians, unjust and cruel treatment 

of prisoners, and senseless wars,

genocides, starvations, and poverty that is so pervasive.

May God bless you that you remember we are all called to 

continue God’s redemptive work of love and healing in

God’s place, in and through God’s name, in God’s Spirit, 

continually creating and breathing new life and grace into 

everything and everyone we touch.

United in the body of Christ, let us pray for all people. 

Lord, hear our prayer. 

Rev Wendy Pagden