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 then poured me a glass
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 without measure
“Sir, 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?”
“Sir, first of all, I’d love to know…
“When did I see You unfed; undernourished?”
With a flourishing smile, He said
“You fed me with gift cards that lifted those families
And snacks for panhandlers you’d hand from your car
With cases of canned goods you’d haul to those pantries
And funding you’d send near and far”
“And when did I see You unquenched or 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 or unknown?”
Tearing up on His throne, He regaled
“Assisting the migrants, the pre-born, the trafficked
The desperate refugees spared from near death
Supporting hurt vets, you disabled my sadness
Your foster care saved me from meth”
“Sir, when did I serve You unclothed or unwarm?”
In brilliance adorned, 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.” *
“So, when did I see You uncared for; unwell?”
And swelling with joy, He declared,
“When struck with Alzheimer’s, you’d answer my queries
Over and over, you’d always respond
When sick, you stopped by and we watched that fun series
Post-relapse, you served as my sponsor”
I pleaded, “Oh King, I got just one more plea
“When did I see You unfree, stuck in jail?”
Eyes streaming, this tale He decreed
“When thrown in the clink, you assailed me with visits
Enduring for love endless forms; safety quizzes
The darkness was snuffed by the 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’, Sir, but how ’bout the ‘how’?”
“Just how was I able to see You unfed?
Unquenched or unwatered? Unknown or 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 pure joy, His arms widening
“Your time in My Word
Your silent reflection
Those tales of saint-heroes
Brought strength and direction
“The ‘breaking of bread’ drew your eyes to My Host
Exposing my face in each sorrowful soul
Your goal was to gladden my other selves most
By your love, broken hearts were made whole
“So enter My Kingdom made ready
Already, within you, it’s bursting
Long ago, 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!
Rhymes for the Rejoiceful 