A reflection on Matthew 25:34-40

Melanie and Tyler Tapajna had their wedding particulars all figured out. From the venue to the dress to the food to the dancing, they were ready. It was to be a magnificent day. But the pair had a problem; the wedding was slated for August 2020. Which made gathering safely tricky at best. When the couple from Parma, Ohio, received word the picturesque spot they’d booked for their nuptials would not be open they were disappointed, but not surprised.

Even worse, they’d prepaid for food to feed 150 of their family and friends. They could have tried to find another venue and invited everyone, but Melanie said it just didn’t make sense. Instead, she had an idea and turned to her finance with a question. “What would you think of donating the food instead?”

Tyler loved the idea.
A plan soon emerged.

The couple reached out to Laura’s Home, a Cleveland shelter for single women and mothers with children, and arranged to have their caterer deliver a meal worth about $2,000 to 135 people.

The soon-to-be newlyweds had but one request. After saying their I do’s in front of a dozen family members, they wanted to serve the meal at the shelter themselves. The shelter agreed.

On their big day they married in front of a dozen family members. After the ceremony, the couple, still in their formal wedding attire, drove to the shelter, met the food truck owner, and prepared to serve. They fed the multitude, dishing out fried chicken, mac ‘n cheese, green beans and potato salad, topping it off with chocolate cake for dessert.

Little girls stood on their tiptoes to see Melanie’s wedding gown. Single women and mothers expressed their heartfelt thanks. The shelter’s director smiled, saying, “welcome to your wedding reception.”

The day turned out to be magnificent after all.

Celebrating among people they’d never met, each with so many needs, a new reality becomes clear. For the shelter residents were hungry. And had been given food. Really good food.

With each piece of chicken plated, each mac ‘n cheese scooped, another had been served. For Christ was there. Present in the 135 hungry that filled their bellies that day.

Feet
A decade ago David and Randy had a different kind of problem. The two friends had six-figure salaries working in media and tech companies. But they wanted more. More meaning that is. It was a problem money alone simply couldn’t solve.

Then one day a Facebook fundraising campaign grabbed David’s attention. From it he learned something new: socks were the most requested item in homeless shelters. How could this need be better met?

Knowing some companies use a buy one, give one away model, the pair wondered if the approach could be applied to socks.

So they got to work. During product development they gave sample socks to homeless shelters and requested feedback. Can you make it more durable? And in darker colors to hide stains? Is there any way the socks can help prevent the growth of fungus too?

They were big asks.

The two soon realized socks made for the homeless needed features very different than those they would soon make for sale. So they invested another six months into R&D, working alongside their charity partners. All to develop a very specific sock for a very specific need.

It’s part of the mission they’ve had since day one: to help those experiencing homelessness. For everyone, their website says, no matter their circumstances, deserves to put on clean clothes that feel good.

They then turned to Indiegogo to raise funds, quickly netting ten times more than their hoped-for $10,000 investment. That led to an opportunity to appear on the show Shark Tank, where they cut a deal with investor Daymond John. Their altruistic approach had swayed hearts, minds, wallets.

Early on they settled on a company name: Bombas, Latin for bumblebee. Bees are small, but have a big impact on the world. Their slogan, “Bee Better” is stitched into every sock they make. It’s a great reminder that we can do more with simple, seemingly small everyday actions too.

And what an impact it’s made. The two now partner with over 2,500 community organizations to distribute their socks to the homeless. How many pairs have been donated? In only seven years the number just might surprise. Over 42 million.

It’s hard not to celebrate a success story that helps so many. Looked at in the right light another truth emerges. For the shelter residents had feet that were naked. And had been given socks. Really good socks.

With each pair purchased, given and worn, with each step taken in them, another had been served. For Christ was there. 42 million times over. Walking alongside the least of these, step by step by step.

Care
Vietnam veteran Joe Tasby was admitted to a Nevada hospital in March. He, too, had a problem. Joe struggled with lung disease and a heart arrhythmia and needed expert care. Fortunately, Joe, who is blind, had his trusty guide dog Cupid by his side.

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That’s when Barbara Borbeck “swooped in and came to the rescue — she took good care of us,” Joe recalls.

Each day for nearly three weeks, Barbara, the hospital’s medical-surgical and telemetry director, helped Joe care for his beloved guide dog. “She came in first thing every morning and took him for a walk all around the hospital as she did her rounds, made sure he got outside, to get some air and exercise. She made sure he had food and treats.” Joe recalls.

“Everything Cupid needed she took care of.”

Barbara’s dedication to Cupid and Joe extended far beyond hospital walls. When Cupid’s kibble ran low she traveled to nine different area stores to find the special food. Instead, she encountered only empty shelves.

But Barbara didn’t give up. The nurse drove 40 minutes one morning before her shift to a store that had the food in stock, ensuring Cupid had the right dinner.

Cupid began to grow fond of his helper during the hospital stay, waiting at the door each day for her to arrive, greeting her with a wagging tail. “Cupid can usually tell if people have a good spirit,” says Joe. No doubt, Barbara has a great spirit.

After 21 days Joe was given a clean bill of health, and discharged from the hospital, with Cupid by his side. Nurse Barbara was there too, walking them out the front door all the way to the car.

It’s a heartwarming story, no doubt. Yet seen a certain way the picture becomes more complete. For Joe was sick. Cupid needed help. And Barbara had cared for them both. Time and time again.

With each medicine given, each dog walk, every kibble search, another had been served. For Christ was there. Right by her side. Present in each healing, caring act Barbara performed.

Close
This year, more than most, it can be a little harder to see Christ among us. We often find our focus turned inward to –

Our protests,
Our politics,
Our finances,
Our fears,
Our biases,
Our crises,
Our selves.

Instead, let us shift our gaze outward, to –
The hungry,
The thirsty,
The stranger,
The naked,
The sick,
The imprisoned,
The other.

For when we –
Feed,
Quench,
Welcome,
Clothe,
Care,
And visit –
the least of these,

who are members of the Father’s family,
we meet more than just human need.

In these acts we serve another. We serve Christ. A Christ present with us, in the flesh, taking on human form. In these moments, of service to the other, we encounter nothing less than the kingdom of God.  Amen.