Pre-Lenten Season Reflection

Pre-Lenten Season Reflection by Rev. Jay Stuart Glover

 Today, we live in an age of distraction that has the potential to pull us away away from working towards the will of God being done “On earth as it is in heaven”. 

There is a surge in a  culture that promotes, secularism, consumerism, and a self centeredness that allows some people to feel  comfortable while leaving the poor, the marginalized, the unwanted, the unloved, abandoned on the side of the road to die. 

But, according to Jesus, closing our eyes to  humanity’s suffering equates to turning our backs on Jesus Himself.

The Gospel reading  for today comes from the 25th Chapter of Matthew and early in this pericope  we find a beautiful invitation that  reads in this way: 

Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 

Jesus identifies himself as being in solidarity, or at one  with the suffering of the marginalized,  the oppressed. the unwanted, the outcast, the untouchable, the sick the poor, the imprisoned, and the unwelcome stranger. 

To be a Christian invites us to be individually and collectively to be  actively engaged in confronting and alleviating the sufferings of those most afflicted in our society.  

And so, to be fully human,  bearing the image of Christ  we are invited through this passage to look beyond our own salvific experience and yield ourselves in service to God by 

serving others in need,

in this world,

in this life,

in the here and now.

The truth in this story is greater than the separation of sheep and goats. We are actually given insight into God’s desire for the wellness of  all of humanity. 

As we reflect on all that God has done for us, maybe this is a good time to ask ourselves the question: How can I use my privilege, resources, time and talent to serve God through serving others. Perhaps it’s even better to go to God in prayer and ask Him, Lord show me how can serve you through serving others. As we enter this Lenten period perhaps we can give up any inattentiveness to the suffering of others around us.

May God prosper you according to His divine will and purpose.

Rev. Jay Stuart Glover