The Reason for the Season

Because Christmas was fast approaching, I picked up a book in the library a week or so ago about Jesus.

The book is called "Desire of the Everlasting Hills: The World Before and after Jesus" by Thomas Cahill.

It is a fascinating historical account of the life of Jesus, starting with the history of Judea before his birth, his teachings, his death and his legacy.

One interesting part of the book that I really liked was this;

"It is ironic that Christians make such a fuss about the elements of the Eucharist--bowing before them, kneeling in adoration, because Christ is present in them--but have never bothered to heed the solemn words about the presence of Christ in every individual who is in need.  Jesus told us only once (at the Last Supper) that he would be present in the Bread and Wine, but he tells us repeatedly in the gospels that he is always present in the Poor and Afflicted--to whom we should all bow and kneel.  It is perverse that some Christians make such a fuss about the bound text of God's Word, carrying it processionally, holding it with reverence, never allowing it touch the ground, but have never considered seriously this text of Matthew 25, in the light of which we would always catch God's Needy before they hit the ground."

Think about that this season.  I'll have more commentary on this book later, but here's Matthew 25 in case you were wondering...

 ³¹"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.
³²All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
³³He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 
³⁴"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 
³⁷"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
 ⁴⁰"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' 
⁴¹"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
⁴²For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
⁴³I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 
⁴⁴"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 
⁴⁵"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 
⁴⁶"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."