My wife brought home 30+ leftover pancakes that her youth group had made for their congregation’s Easter breakfast. The following day I had to drop off a projector that I had borrowed from a colleague in ministry for our Good Friday service; outside of this colleague’s studio lives a man named “A” (literally, that is the name he prefers) who is always very welcoming and helps to keep an eye out for the block. I’ve spoken with A several times now and I can say that he is truly a good man.
Matthew’s gospel has various things to say about banquets, and I think those passages might apply in some way to our congregations’ customary Easter pancake-breakfasts. Although it was a day after the banquet, I took with me the leftover pancakes and some other items from our fridge in order to share with A. Here is a man who — for all I know — lives outside my colleague’s studio 24/7 and whose only possessions fit into his shopping cart. After a brief chat with A, I offered to him the food. He responded, “That’s great! I know some guys nearby that really have it down-and-out and need some food like this. I try to feed them as a part of my Christian ministry. Thank you and God bless!”
I was thinking later about how our society teaches us to shun folks like A — the “scourge” of our society. Seriously, though, does our baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection — where our true identity rests — allow us to dismiss others so easily? A’s comment made me think about how the mindset of so many congregations and ministries in America is to lift up others to our economic status or closer to it (whatever that status may be). You know, we all love a rags to riches story; yet, it appears that A is happy with his life situation and is content on doing ministry there. Can I accept him as my brother in ministry, or must I continue to view him as the one I do ministry “to,” “upon,” or even “on top of.”
We tend to love a success story, but how many of us would buy the ticket to see a “riches to rags” movie? If Good Friday teaches anything about our baptism, it is that we are baptized into Christ’s life of “riches to rags.” Dare I ponder the question that compares the Christ-likeness of A’s ministry to my own ministry? I pray that the Spirit will allow me to continue to ruminate upon these questions and will sanctify me through them.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The Rood Ruminant 
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