God calls us to be disciples of Jesus, building community through
service and fellowship and sharing the love of Christ with all.
“The United Methodist Church of Westford is an open and welcoming community of Christian
Faith. Without any exceptions, we welcome anyone who seeks to love and to serve God.” Learn More
"A Tiny Spark Starts a Great Fire"
In Matthew 25:34-40, Jesus shows us that the standard of the final judgment is completely different from what we expect. The Lord does not ask what kind of grand slogans our church shouted, or if we hold the beautiful title of a "Reconciling Church." The real standard of judgment is something neither the good nor the bad expected. It is simply found in our eyes and our hands when we welcome the "least of these" who walk through our church doors.
In verse 35, the word "stranger" is Xenos (Ξένος) in Greek. This does not mean a casual traveler. It means someone who belongs nowhere, an unwelcome outsider, a person completely pushed away by society. Today, these are the LGBTQ+ individuals and marginalized people who have become spiritual refugees because they have no safe place to stay due to prejudice and hatred. Jesus, the King of kings, hides himself in the faces of these lowest and most neglected people. He declares, "Whatever you did for them, you did for me."
True reconciliation and revival do not come from a grand ideological movement to change the world. In fact, a church focused only on political movements becomes dry and full of conflict. Real change begins when we first experience God's love and find peace within ourselves. Only then can we create a safe space for the Xenos next to us, offering "small acts of care"—a cup of water, a warm smile, and a heartfelt hug.
There is no such thing as a perfectly finished Reconciling Church. Rather than holding big events, our small gestures and tiny sparks of welcoming the single "least of these" will gather together. In the end, they will create a great storm of love that melts away all prejudice in this world.