In this account, Jesus teaches about showing compassion and kindness to the stranger in our midst. 

Jesus tells us that when we help to feed, clothe, shelter, care for the sick and injured, or simply welcome strangers into our community, we are doing all these things for Him. 

In this text Jesus’ listeners – ‘the righteous’ – respond by asking: “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?” (Matthew 25:37-38  NRSV) It is then that Jesus teaches the world that serving people in need is, in fact, serving Him.

So why have I titled this contribution to ‘You and the Church’ Stranger Danger? 

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 25 is White Ribbon Day in Australia - a national campaign to highlight the issue of domestic violence in our community. 

There is absolutely no room or excuse for the perpetration of domestic violence. 

Not in God’s eyes, nor should it be in the eyes of anyone else. 

The sad reality though is that it does happen – all too often. 

The statistics are horrifying! 

So, I am not going to list them except to emphasise that our community, including even our church communities, are not immune from this blight.

Why stranger danger? 

Because one thing the domestic violence statistics do reveal is that the greatest danger comes from within the home – from the stranger under your own roof. 

Spousal abuse – mainly by men against women, but not exclusively. Women can be perpetrators also. 

And then there is the abuse and loss of innocence of children, scarred for life by physical or emotional violence inflicted by the people they trust most and who should be loving them the most. Inexcusable.