For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you
gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and
you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me. Then these righteous
ones will reply, "Sir, when did we see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty
and give you anything to drink? Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and
clothe you? When did we ever see you sick, or in prison, and visit
you?" And I, the King, will tell
them, "When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to
me." Matthew 25:35-40
In my home church during Lent, we gathered together every
Wednesday night for fellowship with a potluck supper and then a time of
worship. My daughter and I laugh about the wonderful church ladies' food at
these potlucks. They included Mrs. W's Chinese casserole, Mrs. P's meatloaf, Mrs.
K's Watergate salad, Mrs. P's green Jello salad with cottage cheese and
pineapple, Mrs. H's homemade rolls, and Mrs. L's scalloped potatoes. There was
an abundance of meat dishes, creamy vegetables, and fruited muffins, and of
course desserts of cookies, cakes, and pies. Many people filled their plates
twice and there were always leftovers. The worship service was always a
thoughtful time leading up to Easter. Our pastors took turns preaching in the
different Presbyterian churches in our community.
Thinking about this, I remembered that our church had a sign
outside inviting the community to attend these gatherings, and one family did.
They lived in a small run-down house within a block of the church. I remember they had 5 children all under the
age of eleven. They were pretty ragged-looking, clothes wrinkled, shoes very
worn. The oldest daughter was a year younger than me and they went to my
elementary school. They would come to
the potluck with a small bowl of Jello salad and would stand at the front of
the line for the meal. After they ate
they would leave without attending the worship service. I don't remember
anybody greeting them warmly, sitting beside them during the meal, or inviting
them to join in worship. The church ladies gossiped that all they came for was
the food.
Now as I look back at this, I realize they really just came
for the food. Their large family was poor and this meal was a blessing in
providing a free meal to hungry people. There were no food pantries in my town, no places that regularly served
free meals except maybe the mission, and no food trucks that gave away free
fruits and vegetables in poor neighborhoods. We did not ask their names or do a
follow-up welcoming visit with cookies. Our church just seemed unaware of the
poverty of our neighbors, the lost opportunities to interact with them, and the
poor hospitality that was shown to them. We were too busy being involved in the
lives of our congregation to look around outside.
Thankfully, our eyes have been opened to recognize the needs
of our community. May we never return to turning an empty eye to those in need
of our food, our fellowship, and our caring.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding us to
remember the least of these amongst us. Help us share our bounty and our love
with others. Help us be brave in welcoming the community into our midst. Thank
you for opening our eyes. Amen
Nancy Hall
