Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, March 26, 2023
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: Inaction is as bad or worse than acting reprehensibly.
Jesus described the coming of the Son of Man. On that day, he will separate the sheep from the goats. At his right hand will sit all who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, took care of the sick, and visited the imprisoned. At his left hand will sit all who did not feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, and give the thirsty drink.
Interestingly, Jesus didn’t say that those excluded from the kingdom were the bad people—those who acted reprehensibly. He did not condemn those who betrayed loved ones, murdered innocents, or stole from the poor. The bar was far lower for those excluded. They were not the ones that acted improperly, but the ones that did not act at all.
We live in a culture that values privacy and autonomy. There is no harm in moving through the world with a minimal footprint. We do our thing, we keep to ourselves, and no one gets hurt.
But Jesus expects more. It is not enough to feed our own families or to climb the corporate ladder for ourselves. Jesus expects us to feed other people and help others succeed. We are to welcome those who show up at our doorstep hungry and without homes. We are to offer a helping hand to those whose skin color, culture, age, size, sexuality, or gender identity prevents them from achieving equitably. We are to humble ourselves so that others might be lifted up. Failing to harm is not enough. Failing to act is in some ways worse. It is more insidious in how inaction is perceived as benign. Inaction is not benign—its harm is invasive and ugly and painful. We can do better.
