I dreamt I awoke in a luminous place
The King incandescent on Seraphim chair
He stated, “I’m grateful you’ve channeled my grace
My Kingdom for you is prepared!

“For when I was famished you found me some food
Swooning and parched, you poured me a draft
Laughed at, unknown, you threw open your home
Clothing-deficient you bought me new slacks
Lacking in health, you helped out with my healing
And reeling in jail you reached out!”

I asked Him, while basking in love overwhelming
“Wherein and wherefore for you did I care?
Just when did I see you and whereby observe you?
And whithersoever did ever I serve you?”

“So first of all, I’d love to know…

“When did I see You unfed and unnourished?”

With a flourishing smile, He said

“You fed me with gift cards which lifted those families
And snacks for panhandlers you’d hand from your car
With cases of canned goods you hauled to those pantries
And funding you sent near and far”

“And when did I see You unquenched and unwatered?”

With eyes sparked with gladness, He mentioned

“My thirst you subverted with milk for your young
And lemonade brought to your spouse in the stables
With drinks poured at fish fry’s for heroes unsung
And warm-ups while waiting on tables”

“Just when did I see You unhailed and unknown?”

Tearing up on His throne, He regaled

“You spoke for me in the unborn and the homeless
In destitute refugees fleeing from death
By helping hurt vets, you disabled my sadness
Your foster care saved me from meth”

“Lord, when did I see You unclothed and unwarm?”

With composure reborn, He disclosed

“By purchasing work boots your friend couldn’t afford
Crocheting bright hats for those neighbors in need
By skipping the liquor to give more to the poor
And purging for S.V.D.P.” *

“Then when did I see You uncared for; unwell?”

Then swelling with joy, He declared,

“When struck with Alzheimer’s, you answered my queries
My questions repeated, you’d always respond
When sick, you stopped by and we watched that fun series
Post-relapse, you served as my sponsor”

I pleaded, “My God, I have got one more plea

“Lord, when did I see You unfree, stuck in jail?”

Tears streaming, this tale He decreed

“When thrown in the clink, you assailed me with visits
Enduring for me endless forms; safety quizzes
The darkness decreased as my faith you awakened
Your calls made me feel less forsaken”

Before up I woke, I spoke up one last time

“You’ve told me the ‘when’ Lord, but how ’bout the ‘how’?”

“Just how was I able to see You unnourished?
Unquenched and unwatered? Unknown and unhailed?
And how could I notice you naked, unwarm?
Unwell or unfree, stuck in jail?”

Undignified-like, the King sprang to His feet

And sang with full voice and arms widening

“Your time in My Word

Your silent reflection

Great tales of My saints

Brought strength and direction

“The ‘breaking of bread’ drew your eyes to My Host
Exposing my face in each suffering soul
Your goal was to serve all my other selves most
By your love, broken hearts were made whole to

“Now enter My Kingdom made ready
Already, within you, it’s bursting
Long since, you made room
Your own gloom reversing
Rehearsing for living and loving, post-hearse
In My last-are-first

Lost-and-found

Least-of-these

Upside-down Kingdom” **
*****

Matthew 25:31 (NIV) “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 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, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

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’”

*St. Vincent de Paul Society

**Matthew 21:31: “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”

NB. Blessed Archbishop Fulton Sheen said that at the judgment before our Lord we will be disappointed with ourselves but also surprised at how much we have loved Him!