Posted on: 3rd August 2022

At The Lantern, we have a liturgy that says we are building a safe place for those who have lost their way in life and can’t seem to find a way forward. We say it is a family for those who find themselves lost and alone.

Recently, as I spoke these words, one of our alcohol-addicted brothers shouted out – ‘You’ve done that already. This is a family. It is really special here.’ In this precious moment, I found myself a little bewildered.

In my mind, we had managed to provide tasty meals, offer some kindness, and spend a little time talking about Jesus’s love for them. But in the larger context of their very great and complex needs, we have barely scratched the surface. We can feel we are making little difference to the lives of these broken ones. But in that delightful spontaneous moment, I realised serving the least, lost and broken is where we serve Jesus and become like him. 

We so often take for granted the relationships we have with others as the norm, but offering friendship is hugely significant to those who have been rejected by society. The little things that communicate love to another are so familiar to us, that we no longer see it as love. But for those who don’t have it, time and kindness communicate the deep value of them.

Matthew 26: 34 - 40 

…‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you… for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in...’

…‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?... The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Let’s choose to learn to serve the least among us and in doing so please our faithful and loving Heavenly Father.

Liz Harden, Leeds Vineyard, Assistant Pastor.