" Jesus and His disciples went on a journey and passed through Galilee. [When] they came to Capernaum, Jesus asked them, ' What were you arguing about on the road?' But the disciples kept quiet because on the way, they had argued about who was the greatest among them. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last and the servant of all.' He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, He said to them, 'Whoever receives one of these little children in my name receives me; and whoever receives me does not receive me, but the One who sent me.' " [Mark 9: 30-37].
Have you ever seen a few children arguing at school about who was in line first; and the teacher says to the worst one of the boasters, 'Now you will go to the back of the line and become the last' ? Or, a child claims that the biggest piece of cake is his; and his mother tells him, 'Now you will wait until everyone is served, and we shall see how much cake is left for you' ?
Somehow, in our childish sense of justice, this seems to be only fair. "The First shall be last and the Last shall be First."
In this sense, the Humble are exalted. And the Exalted ones are humbled. [Related posting, " The Humble Shall be Exalted", November 4, 2011.]
There is something about us that loves the underdog. And Jesus is the same way! He loves the little children. He loves the meek, the humble, the broken hearted, the crushed in spirit, the "least among us".
The weaker ones, the ill, the children, the orphans, the widows, all of these need extra special protection. Why? Because they cannot always take care of themselves alone.
But Jesus takes this a step further: He says, not only are we to receive and welcome the "least among us"; if we do so in Jesus' name, we are actually receiving and welcoming Jesus Himself-- and the Father!
How much more do I despair when I see the "least among us" severely mistreated, or simply neglected and forgotten. . . . because those who neglect or abuse the weakest in our world are perpetrating this also against Jesus Himself -- and against God!
I grew up in a dysfunctional and abusive home. I cannot help thinking:
What if a mother refuses to make sure that her child has something to eat, even though there is plenty of food in the home. She is actually refusing to feed Jesus!
And if a mother refuses to get her child the medical attention that she needs, she is actually refusing to care for Jesus.
If a father hits a child, he is actually striking Jesus.
If a mother never tells her child that she loves her-- or never hugs her-- that mother is refusing to love Jesus.
If a mother verbally abuses her child, calling her a failure or worse, then the mother is actually being verbally abusive towards Jesus.
If a mother does not make sure that her child is warm enough, then the mother is being cold to Jesus.
If a parent takes the child away from church, then that parent is actually turning her own back on Jesus.
If a mother abandons her child at a time of life and death crisis, then she is actually abandoning Jesus in His dying hours.
How do YOU treat the littlest, the weakest ones in our world? Do you physically strike them, verbally abuse them, neglect their physical needs, withhold your affection, deny them food to eat, scoff if they are cold, belittle their faith, abandon them in their worst hours, and banish them from your heart?
Or-- do you cherish them as Someone precious and sacred-- as precious and sacred as you would regard Jesus Himself, and God Our Father?
It is a double tragedy when I see the littlest among us treated so shockingly; because whatever we do to the least among us, we also do unto Jesus. How can we be so callous and so cruel -- and still call ourselves human ?
(c) The Spiritual Devotional 2012. All Rights Reserved.
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