The way we treat those in need is the way we treat Jesus, Himself.  That's the gist of today's Gospel reading from Matthew.  Our Lord is less interested in our requests for personal forgiveness than our actions to serve others in His name.

I participated in a daylong conference earlier this week up in Massachusetts.  The main speaker was a fellow, named Jim Wallace.  He’s married to an Episcopal priest, but his real claim to fame is that, for the past 30 years or so he’s been the editor of a Christian magazine called Sojourners, and most recently has written a book entitled, God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get it. 

I decided to attend the conference because I’ve been dismayed, of late, by how our nation has been shriven apart by ideologies and by how Christians and how some prominent leaders of American Christianity have been spewing such dogmatic and judgmental condemnation of others, who see things differently.  The meeting provided a lengthy period of time for questions and discussions.  And so this is what I asked: “If being a Christian means following Jesus as our Lord, and if following Him as our Lord, in a democracy means voicing, voting and offering financial support to politicians who represent what Christians understand to be what Jesus teaches (what the Bible teaches), then how, would this nation, if it ever tried to impose those beliefs on others be any different from any other theocratic state or rightwing dictatorship, like, oh say, Iran?”

He had a good answer: “Christians should always resist the temptation to be drawn in to any particular political ideology.  Church and state should always be separate, and Christians should always take the prophetic stand of pointing out injustice.”  As fine an answer as that was, I think there’s an even better one, and today is the very day on which that answer is given.

Today is the Feast of Christ the King.  It is that one day of the year, when we Christians say in no uncertain terms that we have no king, but Jesus.  And on this day the Gospel readings tell us exactly what Jesus Christ, our King, wants us to do as His subjects.  He doesn’t say, “Make everyone think the way I want them to think.”  He doesn’t say, “Make everyone believe what I want them to believe.”  He doesn’t say, “Make everyone do what I want them to do.”  He says, “Treat everyone in need as you would treat me. Do the loving thing!”

We live in a world where the needs are enormous and getting more desperate by the year.  We live in a country where, in some ways, the needs are less well provided for than since the Great Depression -- where more than 25 million children have no health or dental insurance coverage at all.  We live in a community where there are many people in vast need.  We live in a culture where even some of the largest churches only offer assistance when they get credit for it from those people they help, simply because they want to grow larger and, thereby, claim to bring more people into Christ's Kingdom.  We live in a society that has and controls more resources than most of the other dominant Empires throughout history. 

This past Thursday I met with two women – one older and living alone, the other younger with 3 young children and a husband, who often works overtime at the same company at which he’s worked for the past 9 years.  Both were unable to pay for their basic needs – for utilities.

Now, I ask you, what do you think Christ, our King, wants us to do about that?

Today's Gospel reading gives us more than a clue.  Our Lord Jesus Christ gives us an edict and this is it:

To All My Faithful People -- my subjects and any, who hope to be part of my kingdom -- Greetings!  There exist greater opportunities now than ever before for the extension of the Kingdom. Vast needs exist on Earth. Whenever they are met, my rule will be extended and I will be pleased. Therefore, be it known, that whoever sees any need is, hereby, authorized and commanded to try to meet the need through all loving means at their disposal. Whoever does so will prove himself to be my loyal subject.  In order to ensure that this edict is fulfilled, I will personally, and incognito, pass among you as one, who is in need, myself.  Do all you can to the best of your ability and remember that I am always with you to help and to receive your help.

We might differ on just how to accomplish this mission, but that, too, is the way God has put us together. Our task isn't to waste our energies arguing over which way is best, but to do what He has commanded us to do -- as we have the passion and the ability to do so. Some will give money; others personal time and energy, others will pray, others share the good news of Christ, still others will work for structural reform.  In whatever ways we try to meet others' needs let us do it for our Lord and in love. That will change lives and extend His kingdom.

Malcolm Muggeridge used to be the editor of the British publication Punch.  At one time he was fairly well known for his agnosticism.  In his later years he decided to go to Calcutta -- one of the most desperately needy communities at that time.  He went there to examine the work of Mother Theresa.  When asked how she could face all that hopeless desperation, over and over again, Theresa said, "When I look into each suffering face, I see the face of Jesus."  That's what changed Muggeridge -- his mind about God and his life to Christ's leadership.

That kind of faith -- that love in action -- extended Christ's kingdom; and we are called to do the same.  Our servant king expects us to be servants as well, servants of those in need -- wherever we see them and whenever we have the ability to make a difference.  Amen.