Wednesday, April 5, 2023
By Kaye Saxon of Tree of Life Church, Palmer, Alaska
Matthew 25:40 NIV
“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.’
Matthew 22:37-40 ESV 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Whatsoever You Do
By Kaye Saxon
“Average student, enjoys school, works hard, good reader, likes religion.” That is what my mother wrote about me in my baby book for age 6. It still seems fairly accurate today, save the religion part. Over the years I learned it wasn’t religion I liked, it was God.
While I’m sure I was in church before age 6, my first memory of feeling excited about Jesus was at age 6. I was in a catechism class (like Sunday school) and was learning how to do the sign of the cross and what it meant. The first thing I did when I got home was to try to teach it to my 4-year-old sister. I moved from a public school to a private Catholic school (Parochial) in the middle of 1st grade and attended Parochial school through 4th grade. We moved to Alaska that following summer. I have so many fond memories of going to church, watching film strips (sorry young people, look that one up) about Jesus and His disciples in ‘religion class’. I so longed to go to Israel some day and walk where He walked. I learned about the sacraments of Penance and Communion and was honored to have those celebrated firsts which were part of becoming closer to God. Many of the principles that have driven my life come from the hymns I learned in those years. Probably the most impactful was “Whatsoever You Do” – which is from Matthew 25:40.
“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.’ NIV
This time of year, during lent, we would be having services where the Stations of the Cross (a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of His crucifixion and accompanying prayers) were observed. I can smell the incense and hear the prayers of the priest as he walked the Stations. It was a solemn setting as we reflected on what Jesus went through to make a way for us to God. I look back at those celebrations with warmth and love. I learned and experienced a reverence for God and for His Son Jesus, that many times in life, I have forgotten. The awe of God. He is everything, all powerful, everywhere, outside of time, never changing, faithful to His promises, creator and conqueror and His love for us endures forever.
That awe brings me back to Matthew 25:40. As I am moved by the awe of God and the wonder of His love for me, I am moved to express my love for Him by following His greatest commands:
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40 ESV
This week, as I again contemplate the sacrifice of God’s son Jesus, I am brought solemnly to my knees, in awe of the magnitude of what was done, of His love, of His power, and so grateful for the many blessings He has given me. I remember these commandments with renewed reverent obedience.
Father, give me the eyes to see my brothers and sisters as you see them. Fill me with your spirit, that I might live these verses out in my life daily. In reverence to what my Father and Savior have done and with the power of the Holy Spirit in me, may I walk in Love, honoring my Father and the Son that brought the truth of who the Father is, and made a way for me to be with Him eternally and to have life abundantly here and now.
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