Able or Bound?

Matthew 25:40 “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

God has given us all responsibilities. We are responsible. Break down that word: Response-able. But beyond that, we are, according to Jesus, response-bound. Faced with the needs that surround us, we choose either to respond with apathy or with action, with indifference or with intercession. It can seem overwhelming, and we might not think we know where to start, but Mother Teresa provides some guidance:

“I never look at the masses as my responsibility. I look only at the individual. I can love only one person at a time. I can feed only one person at time. Just one, one, one. As Jesus said ‘Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me.’ So you begin… I began. I picked up one person… The whole work is only a drop in the ocean. But if we don’t put the drop in, the ocean would be one drop less. Same thing for you. Same thing in your family. Same thing in the church where you go. Just begin. One. One. One.

At the end of our lives we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ‘I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in.’ Hungry not only for bread but for love. Naked not only for clothing but naked of human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of bricks, but homeless because of rejection.”

Think about the distinction between being response-able and response-bound. How might that affect your life today?

Father, I accept that I am response-bound in response to your abounding grace. Use me today. Amen!