Minister's Thoughts: Sue Mayoss-Hurd
Be of good cheer !
On a Sunday in May 1986, sportsmen and women – the agile and the not quite so agile; the young, old and the “probably should know betters” all came together for a special day. Sports halls and roadways found themselves in a takeover-bid; running shoes and ancient sweatpants emerged from glory holes. But nobody minded – for this wasn’t a sports fashion parade, the Olympic qualifying rounds, nor the 1986 Knobbly knees contest. This day was for Sports Aid with the slogan “Run the world – the race against time”. A day which like the earlier Band Aid – publicized the plight of Africa and empowered many around the world to act on their concern as they ran, sponsored to raise funds to meet those needs.
“Anything you did for one of my brothers or sisters here however humble you did for me”. Jesus’ calls us to see and to minister to the Christ in one another. But how easy it is to become oblivious to their needs, or to believe that our small efforts make no difference.
In one of my favourite Peanuts cartoons, Snoopy is sitting in the doorway of his dog house shivering violently during a winter storm. It’s clearly near Christmastime as Snoopy’s dog house has decorations. Charlie Brown and Lucy are walking by, wrapped up warm. "Be of good cheer, Snoopy," Charlie Brown says. "Yes, be of good cheer," Lucy replies. And they keep on walking as Snoopy sits there with chattering teeth. No doubt Snoopy would prefer a blanket instead of their empty greeting!
Jesus has no way to reach out to the lost and hurting – the hungry, thirsty, naked or sick without his people – that’s you and me! But you and I cannot be this kind and loving person unless the love of Christ is living inside us. “God has poured out his love into our hearts by the means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us”: we read in Romans 5:5. But nothing can be poured into us if our lid is sealed on tight! Only if we are willing to welcome God into our lives can we then be open and ready to be filled with the love which He gives to us. When God calls us to minister to the needy, he equips us with the very love and compassion we require.
In a letter, Mother Teresa wrote: “God love you for the love you are sharing with God’s poor, for in the feeding of the hungry and clothing the naked and giving a home to the homeless, you and I are showing his love and compassion. Together we are doing something beautiful for God. For Jesus has said ‘whatever you do for the least of these my brothers and sisters you do it to me’ Through you and through us all God keeps on loving the world and has given Jesus as proof of his love. Today He gives you and he gives me to be His love and his compassion. Let us allow God to use us to the full. It is not how much we give; it is how much love there is in the giving. For love is giving; faith in action is love; and love in action is service…”
“Love in action is service!” As the Christmas season with all its glitz, lights, presents and festivities draws near – let’s meet and reach out to the Christ in others too! The Christ we often prefer not to see in a back alley of Kelowna, or pushing a rusty shopping cart, seemingly full of junk, up Drought Hill. Donate to the Peachland and Westbank Food bank, volunteer at Kelowna’s “Inn from the cold” project – be creative in finding ways to feed those hungry for food and those starved of the love of God in their lives.
May Mother’s Teresa’s closing words in her letter ignite our hearts too: “This is my prayer for you – that you keep the Light of Jesus burning always in your heart & through your actions show that Christ is alive – that Christ lives in you & through you in the world today”.