Whatever you did unto the least of these... (Matthew 25:40)

    How often we read about an event that happens in our backyard, and we don’t know about it! In my hometown of Austin, Texas, an autistic student was assaulted by a gang near the high school just across the street from our church building. This was literally in our own backyard. Of course, had we known, I want to believe we would have intervened.

    It seems this boy was the planned target for a small group of misguided and troubled teens. At the bus stop, the student was shoved, kicked, and punched. After being examined at a local hospital, the young man was released and went back to school. The student is now continuing his education. The story is different for his attackers. They face criminal charges as adults, and have certainly wrecked not only their education, but much of their own futures as well.

    The incident has raised lots of passion in the community. Austin is a tolerant city with lots of diversity. The idea of this attack on a handicapped student is viewed with outrage. I waited awhile before writing about the incident, since it hits close to home. My own son is a special education student, and a few years ago, was hurt by another student at his school. We have dealt with it, but the pain is still keen.

    Here’s my question, “Why do attacks on those less fortunate cause us such deep pain?”

    Let me suggest a few answers:

Jesus gives great value to “the least of these” in society.

    First, of all, above all, we seek to serve a compassionate crucified Lord. Jesus gives great value to “the least of these” in society. Those who are unattached, left out, and dealing with problems. In other words, all of us at one time or another. And in our midst are those permanently dealing with specific problems that will be a part of their lives forever. Jesus has special compassion for these, and whatever we do for “the least of these” in society, we do also for Jesus — "...you’ve done it unto me.”

    Second, we are all broken in some way or another. Our brokenness may be physical. It may be spiritual. It may be material. It may be emotional. It may be ALL of these. And, so we identify with those who are broken. Indeed, the very human sufferings of the Lord of Lords are what call us most to Him. We see His Majesty in his humanity, and answer His Call, for he has “dwelt among us.”

    Finally, (and I believe this is the core of our pain and compassion), we realize at a deep level, that we NEED these people who are broken. We need them to give us opportunities to serve. We need them to remind us all that our value is not in our achievements, but in our very BEING as a child of God. We need them to remind us that God loves us all not because of our accomplishments, but because of who HE is. As we serve these people in our lives, our own broken spirits are touched in places that only these broken ones can touch. When we turn our backs on them, we turn our backs on Jesus, and on ourselves.

    May God give us the grace to be BROKEN, and OPEN to His grace... in the least of these.

 

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©2003, Cary Branscum. Used by permission.

Title: "Broken, Open"
Author: Cary Branscum
Publication Date: February 27, 2003