The third blog,
entitled, The Least of These uses words from Matthew 25:40. “And the
King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least
of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Before these words are spoken, Jesus
tells two parables, one about Ten Virgins, whose message is about preparation.
The second parable tells the story of the Ten Talents. This second parable’s
message is about investment, stewardship of “the master’s resources.” Immediately
before the quote regarding the least of these is the story, sometimes called “The
Final Judgement.” In the Final Judgement, those who cared for the hungry, naked,
and imprisoned will be judged as having fed, clothed, and visited Jesus. The one
who ministered to Jesus are called righteous and have eternal life as their reward.
I believe
Jesus would categorize the least of these, which typically includes the homeless,
children, and the elderly has grown to include those with compromised immune
systems. Economic challenges that are a consequence of shelter-in orders add to
this list, the furloughed, and those working in so-called essential industries.
This list, I am sure, is much more extensive than this. As mentioned in my first blog, within these
identified groups of people to whom we minister are sub-groups who are
systemically oppressed. This adds additional layers to their suffering.
“A
pandemic such as this exposes and exacerbates the social disparities that have
plagued and continue to plague our society--pun intended!”[1]
New sources have identified multiples ways that there have been unequal and
inequitable responses to the pandemic. An earlier blog has also identified the
ways the pandemic has been used to justify increased oppression. This statement
is exemplified in the events that have occurred since stay-at-home orders have been
issued.
I
am not to saying that there aren’t and haven’t been efforts to feed, clothe,
and welcome. I am arguing that while it is easier to tend to physical needs,
what is often forgotten is the attention to systemic injustices that causes the
needs in the first place. If our country had been considering its preparedness
for a pandemic like the Ten Virgins, we would not be making heart-breaking decisions
about who is provided with a ventilator and who isn’t. If we had been better
stewards of our knowledge and resources, perhaps those working essential jobs
would have the items that would keep them safe from infection. When Jesus said
in Mark 14, “the poor you will always have with you,” he was referring to this
tendency. He was identifying that the poor will always be present because of
the institutional reasons for their poverty will always be present.
The
parables that proceeded the story of the final judgment are apropos. They tell
stories about preparedness and about stewardship. These two items are vital if
we are to care about and for the “least of these.” The pandemic has shed a
spotlight on who the least of these might be. It is up to God’s people, the body
of the Church to step up and to minister. By minister, I mean to go beyond the
material. I call for the Body of Christ to be active in working so that the new
normal will be one in which justice reigns and we don’t need to feed, to
free, or to clothe because everyone has enough to eat and clean water to drink.
The poor won’t be with us because the poor do not exist; all resources are distributed
equitably.
