What does God require of us? Of the many things we value most, what does God place emphasis on? This story is pretty clear that God's loyalty stands with "the least of these" and the way we treat them will determine our grade on the final exam.

Gordon Cosby, Founding Pastor for the Church of the Savior, once said, "Remember that everyone you meet is standing next to a pool of tears." Today's story demonstrates that truth graphically. I wonder how it would change the way we treat each other if we remembered that more often.

Jesus teaches his followers by offering a series of blessings. The people whom Jesus describes as blessed are certainly not considered so by the rest of the world. Is Jesus redefining what it means to be blessed?

Jesus redefines the word neighbor in a most peculiar and challenging way. Can that person who is wrong about every belief and action in their lives really be my neighbor? How can that be, Jesus?

Those who are truly great among the followers of Jesus will be nothing like the great among the Gentiles. Those who follow Jesus find their greatness in serving others, "Doing small things with great love," to quote Mother Teresa. Would that describe us and those who are considered great among us?

Notice the word "fruit" is singular. If we are not producing all of the fruit of the spirit that St. Paul names here then what are we producing?