Let's Do Something Beautiful for God!

Let’s do something beautiful for God.
That’s what Mother Teresa said to her young novices as they worked and lived with the poor of India. Her demand that they see the poor and suffering as God would see them set a movement in motion that literally spread all over the world.
There is no losing when we as people of God set our sights on serving. There are so many who are in need, and so many willing to ignore them or blame them for their situations. There are young people “out there,” kind of making it on their own. There are old people who live lonely, solitary lives with nobody around to check on them. There are little children in our own community who do not have coats or gloves or food to eat at dinner time. If we as people of God ask for the eyes of God, we are able to see the world as God does, and can easily serve, because the need is so great.
I had a dream not long ago that we, Advent, changed course. We had a short praise and worship service on Sunday morning, and then we hit the streets. We went to the homeless and the hungry and the lonely and the lost, and we gave ourselves. We were identified by tee shirts and hats that said Advent United Church of Christ, but we were more identified by the passion with which we served. We sang to those who would listen; we danced for those who would watch. We hugged those who needed hugging and listened to those who had not been heard.
We served.
With the results of the last election, the need to serve will be even greater, I am afraid. We will have to do more to serve “the least of these” because the gap between them and the wealthy is widening. Not only that, but the rich really are becoming richer; corporations have been posting record profits while the vast majority of us are flailing in deep water with strong currents going against us. If we who love God do not serve, we will have missed an opportunity to show the world that God is real, that God is good, and that God cares.
I am proud to be the pastor of a congregation which, in spite of having few resources, does much with little. God has given the vision to serve and God will provide for that vision. We need only step up with joy and love and eagerness. God will take care of us.
In this upcoming holiday season, the need to serve will be even greater. Let’s do something beautiful for God. Let’s get out and hit the streets and touch people who are too often ignored. Let’s bring them in to get warm and teach them that they matter. Let’s be a light in this community, the likes of which we cannot even imagine. God has kept us this long for a reason, and I think the reason and the season is upon us.
The last election notwithstanding, God is good. Politicians lied to get into office, and will spend their time figuring out how to stay in office and prepare for the next election, letting the very people I’m talking about languish. The people are not their concern; their own lives are. That is just the reality.
The Jewish people have a thing called “Tikkun Olam.” It calls for people to engage in the sacred repair of God’s world; it is the impetus for social action and social justice within the Jewish faith. It is, I think, doing something beautiful for God. Rabbi Judith Jacobs wrote a book, “There Shall Be No Needy: Pursuing Social Justice Through Jewish Law and Tradition.” If we who love God will not pursue social justice and tend to the least of these, then who will?
I say that it is our time, our season, Advent.
Let’s do something beautiful for God!