IT WAS REALLY THE QUEEN
Some ten years before her death, Queen Elizabeth II had an amusing encounter with two American tourists. The Americans were hiking in a forested area near the queen’s country estate in Scotland, when they came upon an elderly woman and a number of male companions. They all started to chat, and one of the hikers asked if the woman had ever met the queen, since they were so close to one of her residences. The older woman said she had not, but one of her escorts met with the queen regularly. So the American asked with excitement whether the woman would be kind enough to take his picture with the man who knew the queen, which she did. Perhaps just to be nice, he also had his picture taken with the sweet lady. Only later, when friends back home were looking at his travel photos, did he realize that he’d been talking with the queen of England.
IT WAS REALLY THE KING
Today’s reading is Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats. Both groups are judged on how well they have treated “Jesus” when they met Him. But neither group remembered ever meeting Him, and they certainly didn’t remember visiting Him (or refusing to visit) when He was sick, or in prison. Only at the end does the king reveal that whatever kindness—or lack thereof—that they extended to any person in need is a kindness unto Him. Every person in need is connected to the king of all creation.
Questions
- What’s the best story you’ve ever heard about someone who met a celebrity, perhaps without realizing who it was?
- Do you know anyone who might be in pain or need right now? Who?
- How can we directly minister to the King of Kings?
