Jesus said to his disciples:
There will always be something that causes people to sin. But anyone who causes them to sin is in for trouble. A person who causes even one of my little followers to sin would be better off thrown into the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their neck. So be careful what you do.
Correct any followers of mine who sin, and forgive the ones who say they are sorry. Even if one of them mistreats you seven times in one day and says, “I am sorry,” you should still forgive that person. (Contemporary English Version)
In the children’s book by Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who! Horton the elephant famously said, “A person’s a person no matter how small.” All the people around Horton were completely unconcerned for the residents of Who Ville living on a clover.
They were uninterested because the Who’s were invisible to them. Dr. Seuss chose to make Horton an elephant, a large creature able to hear with big ears and be attentive to the small.
Bigness and a large heart comes from becoming small and noticing little ones.
“Little ones” are people no one sees or notices. But Jesus sees them. They matter to him. And so they ought to matter to us, too. People need to be seen and heard by us – because they are visible to Jesus, and heard by him.
Christ often mingled with little people – children, women who had no rights, social misfits like lepers, the chronically ill, religious outsiders, tax collectors, and prostitutes. Our world is filled with similar people – angry adolescents, unwanted babies, forgotten old people, the mentally ill, moral failures, immigrants and refugees, and, if we have eyes to see and big ears to hear, lots of underprivileged people who reside on the dark underbelly of society.
They are around us, even if they are invisible to us.
Jesus envisioned a community that sees, honors, and protects little people. Truth be told, we are all little people before God, and the Lord notices us. So, we are to have enough humility to see the little people around us.
The way to become great in the kingdom of God is to descend, not ascend, into greatness. The chief enemy of any community is a desire to be prominent, to be the Big Cheese – it’s called “pride” and it will separate us from God if we hold onto it. Which is why we must do all we can to radically cut it out of our lives.
We are to welcome people – not because they are great, wise, rich, powerful, good-looking, and look like you and me. Rather, we are to welcome others because they are noticed by Jesus. Like Horton the elephant, Christ the Lord hears the cry from the place of smallness and is determined to do something about it.
The proud person who seeks prominence is always looking for greener pastures and impressing others. The proud connect with people who will help advance them up the ladder of success. Through that process of advancement, the proud do not care who they step on along the way.
Christians, however, are to give the small, insignificant people of society the time of day, treat them as important, and advocate for their needs.
The Apostle Peter learned the hard way about paying attention to those different from himself. He experientially learned the saying, “love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:9) This means that basic love for another prevents them from committing the sins they would have if they were unloved.
If we do not love, it would be better for us to be killed in a tragic millstone death. Jesus does not want people acting like leeches, just sucking the life out of others to get what they want.
So, what do we do about it? How shall we then live?
A person’s a person no matter how small. We need humility, to lower our sights and our bodies to see little people. We can truly see a two-year-old toddler whenever we lower ourselves to view them as equal and important. The way to see another requires slowing down, observing, and stooping or sitting to look them in the eye and give them the dignity of attention they deserve.
The danger of reading a post like this is the thought that all this stuff is really for someone else. After all, I don’t want to hurt anyone or see anybody deprived, right? Yet, the fact remains that we do no one any good when we neglect getting on the floor.
When we assume blessing for ourselves without the intent of giving it to others, we have come under the judgment of Christ. Perhaps we fear forgiveness – either accepting an apology from another or offering one to someone we have wronged. Out of sight, out of mind, is the approach of the one who causes others to stumble and make them fall.
Christ’s admonition is to watch ourselves, to be vigilant of both overt and covert sins against the unseen and forgotten amongst us. The pyramid below concerning racism is just one example of many other forms of causing others to stumble and fall:
Even though I write this warning, dear friends, I am confident of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation, deliverance, and liberation for all persons.God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped others and continue to help them.
Continue to show this same diligence so that what you hope for may be fully realized; and, imitate those who through faith and patience are doing good work. May the Lord be with you.
For those deprived of their human needs and their human rights: Just God, may they may be given the dignity by others which you confer on all his people.
For all who are forgotten and unseen, especially the poor, the sick, and the aged: All-seeing God, may you move us to love them as the image of Christ.
For all who are lonely or afraid, for teenagers on the street, the elderly in nursing homes, prisoners with no one to visit them, and all whom the world has forgotten: Lord Christ, may you lead us to them.
For those who suffer mental illness or disorder: Attentive God, may we cherish the gifts you have given them, and in their lives hear the voice of your love.
For each human life: Creator God, may we value every person as you do.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Rev. Tim Ehrhardt 