Messiahs... they're everywhere

Well, that little bit of heresy aside, just think about it for a second.

I remember hearing the following saying when I was in Grade 10.

"If we treated everyone like they were the Messiah, it wouldn't matter if they weren't."

This is in a fictional book written by a Rabbi about a baker in a small town in the mountains of some country somewhere who is full of wisdom about how we should live our lives as good Jews. Now myself not really being a Jew... and many of you not being Jews.... you'd think that this has nothing to do with us, but in fact the lessons to be learned from this book apply to everyone I think.

Think about that statement that I just quoted. Then think about another verse, somewhere in the vicinity of Matthew 25. Verse 40.

Ring any bells?

No?

The line where Jesus says inasmuch as you have done to the least of these, you have done it unto me?

Aaahhh.. now you know.

So indeed. When we see the starving person on the street... when we rage at the slow driver in front of us.... when we wonder what's wrong with the person that's acting jerky behind the counter at the McDonalds.... if we were to treat all those people like THEY were the Messiah (in the Jewish context I suppose it's because they're still waiting, while in the Christian context we've been told that when we do it to these that we're doing it to him) then would it really matter that in all literal contexts they weren't the Messiah? By not responding in kind to a person that treats you rudely or by showing compassion, patience and understanding to the person whom is annoying you just by doing what they do, it not only makes that person feel more comfortable, but you save yourself many gray hairs and stress by just relaxing.

Probably not something that a lot of people have heard for the first time (including myself. I've thought about this a lot.)

And yet always we forget.

How quick we are to be our foolish impatient stupid selves.