Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, come.  Take my lips and speak with them.  Take our minds and think with them.  Take our hearts and set them on fire with love for you.  In Christ’s name, we ask it.  Amen

Two British authors J. John and Mark Stibbe wrote a book titled, “A Box of Delights.”  And in the book, they penned a list that I believe gives us much to consider.  I want to share part of that list with you tonight.  They begin:

“If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.  If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish somewhere, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.  If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, think of the more than one million who will not survive this week.  If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million in the world.  If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more fortunate than three billion people in the world.”

“If you can hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.  If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are gifted because you can offer a healing touch.  If you can read this message, remember that there are over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.  Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight, just remember the homeless family who has no bed to lie in.  Should you find yourself stuck in traffic, don’t despair; there are people in this world for which driving is an unheard of privilege.” 

“Should you have a bad day at work [or school], think of the man who has been out of work for the last three months [or who can’t find a job because he has no diploma].  Should you despair over a relationship gone wrong, think of the person who has never known what it’s like to love and be loved in return.  Should you grieve the passing of another weekend, think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her family.  Should your car break down leaving you miles away from help, think of the [physically challenged person] who would love the opportunity to take a walk.  Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what life is all about, asking, “What is my purpose?” Be thankful: there are those who didn’t live long enough to get the opportunity to ask the question.  Should you find yourself the victim of other people’s bitterness, ignorance, or insecurities; remember, things could be worse…You could be suffering from bitterness, ignorance, or some insecurity yourself just like them.”

There is plenty to ponder in this list created by these two British men—much indeed. And, for me as I read and reread this list I find myself profoundly convicted of two things.  This first is that I have so much for which to be grateful.  I am sure most of you would agree with me that there are innumerable blessings in our lives.  I have so much to say thank you for—both to those I love and to God who is the beginning and end of all things.  My second conviction is that because I have been so blessed I feel compelled to give back, to allow my blessings to bless others, to share some of the abundant love and resources I have been given with other people, particularly those who are suffering—and there are people suffering all around us in our world and even in our own homes.  Jesus said those to whom much is given, much is required.  You have been given much.  What will you do now?  Will you serve the suffering?  Will you allow the abundance you have been blessed with to bless others—particularly those in need?

Being a Christian or a Christ follower is about much more than an intellectual assent to a certain belief system or simply a way to avoid the perils of hell, Christianity is a way of living in the present.  It is a call to enact in our lives and in the world today the self-sacrificial love that Jesus demonstrated both in his life and in his death.  Jesus was a lover and a giver and those that follow him are to be as well. 

Moreover, as Christians, our citizenship is not only of a particular nation or among a particular people.  Our citizenship is among all who are created in the image of God—that is every human who exists.  Our baptismal covenant affirms our relationship with all people in this world when it asks us to seek and serve Christ in all persons and respect the dignity of every human being—including and perhaps most especially the poor, the disenfranchised, and the voiceless.  Tonight’s gospel lesson affirms that Christ is not only met among the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, those with out adequate clothing, the sick, and the imprisoned, but that God loves these people desperately and calls us to find him and ourselves among those living in terrible need.  You are a lover and a giver.  You will find your God and yourselves among the poor and the helpless.  Will you reach out and meet Christ among the suffering?  Will you use your blessings to bless others?  Will you participate in the transformation of the world into the kingdom of God?

I have often said that it is the little things in life that make the biggest difference.  Tonight you have a chance to participate in a little way in the building of the kingdom of God, which will make a big difference.  You can do so by staying for dinner and writing a few letters to ask your congress men and women to support the Millennium Development goals.  The MDG’s were developed by the United Nations to end extreme poverty and its causes in our world by the year 2015, and the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion, and the Diocese of Texas have all agreed to join in the effort in anyway we can.  The goals specifically are to: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.  Achieve universal primary education.  Promote gender equality and empower women.  Reduce child mortality.  Improve maternal health.  Combat HIV/Aids, Malaria, and other diseases.  Ensure environmental sustainability.  And develop a global partnership for local economic development.

Please stay tonight and tell your political leaders that as Christ followers we care about the poor among who we meet our Lord.  It is a little thing that makes a big difference.  It is a tangible way to allow the blessings in your life bless others.  Amen.     

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