Mark's Remarks 12/7

This Christmas legend comes from medieval times. According to the legend, on Christmas Eve the Christ Child wanders throughout the world looking for places where he will be welcomed. Those who love him, those who hope he will visit their homes, demonstrate this by placing lighted candles in the window to invite him in. No one knows what he will look like when he comes. He might be a beggar. He might be blind. He might come as a poor and lonely child. So, devout Christians welcome into their homes everyone who knocks on their door on Christmas Day. To turn anyone away may mean rejecting the Christ Child.
Some of you are familiar with Jim Wallis. Wallis is often featured on TV news talk shows as a spokesman for the Christian community. Wallis tells about the ministry of the Sojourners Neighborhood Center in Washington, D.C., his hometown. This center stands just one‑and‑a‑half miles from the White House. On a given day three hundred families stand in line outside the center to receive a bag of groceries which is critical to getting them through the week.
Just before the doors are opened and all the people come in, all those who help prepare the food join hands and say a prayer. The prayer is often offered by Mary Glover, a sixty‑year‑old black woman who knows what it means to be poor and knows how to pray. She prays like someone who knows to whom she is talking. She has been carrying on a conversation with her Lord for many, many years. She first thanks God for another day, “Another day to serve you, Lord,” she says. And then Mary Glover may pray something like this, “Lord, we know that you’ll be coming through this line today so, Lord, help us to treat you well.”
That’s how we need to view those in need, as our brothers and sisters in Christ. Saints of God care about other people. This is not out of fear of divine punishment. Rather it is because the Spirit of Jesus lives in our heart. We see others through his eyes and that makes all the difference.