Respond to those in need

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

"Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, o' blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. ... Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren you did it to me." (Matthew 25:31-40)

The Greek work agape is a word for love that really means treating other people with respect, meeting their needs both ethically and physically. The word is more a verb than a noun. It is a doing word.

Jesus is asking us not just to pray, as important as that is, but to respond to people's needs.

All over the world, and here at home, people are hurting, are in need, body, mind and spirit. We are called to meet the needs of the least and lost among us. We have responded wonderfully to Haiti, but let us respond to people wherever we see the need so that God's gracious love may abound.

• Bill McCord is a retired United Methodist pastor and member of the Carson City Ministerial Association.