I was planning on sitting down this weekend and writing a
post. I wanted to write about some of
what the last couple of weeks have held, what with taking on another class
among other things. There have been some
neat experiences and growth moments thanks to some podcasts, some reading, and
some prayer.
But the yesterday happened.
I was sitting in a hair salon, my hair up in foils while
sipping wine (yeah… the owner at my salon apparently keeps wine on hand for the
clients).
And then the owner came in and told us there had been
attacks in Paris. He had heard at that
point that 30 people were confirmed dead.
I felt sick.
By the time I arrived home more details had been released
and my Facebook newsfeed was full or people expressing their sorrow and offering
prayers for those in Paris.
I remembered the attacks on September 11 and how it felt
like people everywhere were bonded together through the shock and grief and
what had happened.
What I experienced today was something different
though. I witnessed a myriad of friends
change their profile pictures in support of France. I saw people reflecting on the sorrow, the
hurt, and trying to cope with it all.
And I have felt sick all day because of it. I have felt sick because the people I see
posting or sharing these posts are people who claim the same faith as me.
I keep thinking, How
do I respond to this?
As a History major I studied 20th century
history, specifically around the middle of the century. This means I learned about all the nations
that shut their doors to Jews trying to flee Nazi Germany. I learned about the way countries,
specifically Canada, treated immigrants.
They were treated as second-class citizens (if they were lucky). Some were placed in internment camps because
people were so scared of them. In WWII
we placed the Japanese in such camps. We
confiscated their property and once they were in the camps we sold it and kept
the profits. Why? Because Japan was on the opposite side in the
war and that meant we viewed all Japanese as a threat.
We became so scared that all people of a specific
race/culture became viewed as the enemy.
And today I saw people doing the same thing.
Because of what a few terrorists did, people are willing to
blame an entire people group.
And it grieves me.
On the other hand, I saw people quoting Matthew
25:35-36. I thought I would share the
whole section in the chapter that that verse comes from.
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his
glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All
the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people
one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He
will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
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 sick 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 sick 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.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left,
‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared
for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry
and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I
was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not
clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we
see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in
prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever
you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal
punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Jesus wasn’t telling us to turn away those who are hurting
because we are scared for our own lives.
He tells us to feed those who are hungry. To clothe those who are naked and cold. To invite in the strangers with nowhere to
go. To look after those who are sick.
I have said in multiples posts that the purpose of our lives
is to become more like Christ. That the “good”
in Romans that God promises to work all things out for, is His purpose of us
becoming more like Him.
And you know what He did?
He healed those from all walks of life (Luke 8:42-48; John
9:1-9).
He prayed for those who hurt, persecuted, and then
ultimately killed Him (Luke 23:34).
He took time to talk with those who were viewed as enemies
of Him and His people (John 4:1-42; Luke 19:1-10).
Father, make me more like You. Help me to feed, clothe, welcome, and take
care of those who are in need. For You
have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
