A Modern Parable: A Man was Walking...

A Man was walking down the street. He didn't have much in the way of money and things, but he was happy. When he would meet another on the road he would say "Amen, Amen to you and to the glory of our mutual benefactor."

Most men he would come across would look at him with distain, for he was raggedly dressed and lacked cleanliness. Others would simply return a "hello" or "how do you do?" Some would violently yell at him and tell him to get on his way. He would continue his walk and continue his greetings.

Every now and then another person would not just thank him but offer him something to eat or some money for his journey. Mostly out of pity but every nor and then as a thank you to him for his kind message.

One day on the outskirts of the town he met a man sitting. He said to this man "Amen, Amen to you and to the glory of our mutual benefactor." Now this man on the side of the road said "why do you offer me this greeting, I now not of whom you speak." So on this day the man sat down next to this seeming stranger and said "You might not know this but we are children on the same path. I am so glad I have met you on this day." The stranger was dress more raggedly and didn't even have a coat to dampen the cold. He said to the new man "I have no path, I am merely sitting here waiting for the day to end."

So the man said "Well perhaps you don't know of whom I speak but our mutual benefactor has given you a great gift this day." So the stranger looked around and being quite sure no one had given him a gift in a long time said "Away with you for I have been given no gift and no one is likely to help a broken man like me." The man said "well I see you have no coat, so here take this and be happy." He took off his coat and gave it to the man. The stranger didn't even say thank you.

The man got up and continued to walk with the biggest smile on his face. For you see the man knew that he had done as was required of him. He had given another who had much greater needs them himself a coat and he was comforted.

He knew he had given a gift to Christ when he helped a poor man. For Jesus said "Come Oh blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for 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, and 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 brethen, you did it to me."