小さい者を最優先に考える-DOING SMALL THINGS WITH A GREAT LOVE

小さい者を最優先に考える

マタイ25.31-46

皆さん、今日、私達は全教会と共に王であるキリストの祝日を祝います。イエス様は世界のあらゆる力よりも優れておられる唯一のお方です。

今日の福音書の中では、イエス様が強調していることは二つあると思います。まず、神の国に入るためには、私達は喜んで最も小さい者達、つまり社会的弱者を大事にしなければならないということです。彼らは社会から忘れ去られてしまう人、いつも人の助けが必要な人、空腹な人、病気の人、牢屋の中にいる人かもしれません。

次に、貧しい人や避難民を助けることは、イエス様ご自身に尽くすことと同じことであるということです。ヨハネ15章12節「わたしがあなたがたを愛したように、あなたがたも互いに愛し合う。」つまり、困難に苦しむ人々の人生の内に、イエス様がおられるのです。

私達の周りには様々な苦労をしているお友達が、たくさんいます。私達は苦しんでいる人々の心に寄り添いながら、愛を持って支えてあげることを求められています。確かに、愛を表すのに犠牲が必要な時もあります。イエス様が私達のために犠牲を払って十字架にかけられて愛を示されたように、私達も犠牲を払ってでも、行動を通して、最も小さい者達、困っている人達に愛を捧げましょう。

今日の福音を読むと、モナシュ大学に初めて行った時のことを思い出しました。サザンクロス駅前で、ホームレスの人達がお金を求めていました。多くの人が通り過ぎますが、彼らを気にかける人はなかなかいませんでした。神様が彼らを必ず気遣われ、いつか救いがある様にと祈りました。同時に祈ることしかできない自分が少々恥ずかしくもありましたが、それが今自分にできる最大限のことだと思い直して、更に祈りました。

私達と同じように先の見えない不安の中で生きている人々が、希望の光を待ちわびながら、世界中で祈っています。特に、難民や戦争の中で生きる人々、食糧不足に苦しむ人々など、私達の助けを切実に必要としています。今こそ、お互いに助け合い、励まし合いながら、前に進み続けましょう。そして私達を見守ってくださるイエス様がどんなに苦しい時にも共におられることを、毎日、思い出してほしいと思います。明るい未来が必ず来ることを信じて祈りましょう。

皆さん、今週もお元気にお過ごしください

主の平和

DOING SMALL THINGS WITH A GREAT LOVE 

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Today we celebrate the Feast of our Lord Jesus Christ the King of the Universe. I believe there are two dimensions to today's celebration: the cosmic dimension and the eschatological dimension. In the cosmic dimension, Jesus Christ is not only the king of human beings but also the king of the entire universe. While in the eschatological dimension, Jesus Christ will come in His glory and will judge all human beings in love at the end of their life on earth.

Today's gospel clearly illustrates to us that Jesus is a just king who judges us with love. Jesus uses symbols as signs to distinguish those who belong to God from those who do not belong to God. The sheep symbol refers to the righteous and the goat symbol depicts those who are cursed. Jesus judges us based on what we have made while in the world. In other words, Jesus allows us to enter the kingdom of God not depending on our knowledge or intelligence, or the position and rank we have achieved, nor on our possessions or wealth, but based on our acts of love in the world. This means that Jesus indirectly wants us to live in peace and love, sharing, supporting, and respecting each other, not in violence and war.

Jesus taught us to always care for those who are ostracised, to respect those who are often bullied, and to support and help those who are suffering. Jesus said: "What you do or don't do to others is the same attitude and behavior you have towards me." This illustrates that God is truly present in those who suffer, present in those who are ostracised, and those who are isolated in our society. God is present in the faces of sufferers.

I am sure that many people around us are facing various challenges and difficulties in life. When dealing with them, we should not first donate millions of dollars to have our names written in history. The first and foremost thing we do is to approach them with love. We should help or assist our neighbor in small and simple things. Jesus mentioned several things: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, lodging the homeless, clothing the poor, visiting the sick, and suffering.

Today's gospel reminds me of the first time I went to the Monash campus. Homeless people were asking for money in front of Southern Cross station. Many people were there, but hardly anyone noticed them. I prayed that God would definitely notice them and that one day they could be given the best by a kind-hearted person. At the same time, I felt a little ashamed that all I could do was pray for them.

Let us strive with full confidence and faith, living according to the teachings and example of Jesus to help each other, especially helping our brothers and sisters in need. Let us be a bridge of God's love to others in our daily lives, and let us do small things for others with great love. Because, even though we are not related by blood, others are also our brothers and sisters in love.

 

PEACE BE WITH YOU