A Stranger

A BRIEF MEDITATION

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on His glorious throne. 32 Before Him will be gathered all the nations…  34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me… Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:31-32, 34-35, 40

Welcomed

It is a lovely picture—Jesus, welcoming people into the kingdom of God, to live there in joy and happiness forever. And why? Because, he says, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Of course, Jesus’ listeners protest. “Lord,” they say, “When did we ever see YOU a stranger and welcome You?” With their eyes full of his glory, they can’t imagine how this could ever have happened.

They know what it means to be a stranger—to be alone and dependent on other people for help, even for basic food and shelter. They have probably experienced this in their own lives. And now Jesus is saying to them, “You welcomed me”? When was Jesus ever a stranger—ever in need, ever at their mercy for food and clothing and shelter? It doesn’t make sense. But then we get Jesus’ wonderful conclusion: “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Jesus is not a stranger to our lives, even though he is the Holy One. He knows what it is to be far from home and in need. He lived that life himself, here in our world. He did more than that—he died and rose from the dead, all to rescue the people God loves—which is you and me. And he says to us, “I want you to be my own. I know your life, and I have given my life for you. I identify myself with you, so much that whoever welcomes you, welcomes me. I choose you. Trust in me.” What could be better than that?

By Dr. Kari Vo