What members of our society do we consider expendable?  There are many: alcoholics and drug addicts, foster children, the elderly, soldiers, sex offenders and other "criminal elements," unwanted fetuses, gang bangers, the sick and diseased, ethnic minorities, "illegal immigrants," and the poor and hungry in general.  In other words, anyone who differs from the majority of us in lifestyle conditions and/or economic privilege.  Were they, however, expendable as five-year olds?  Just when in their development as human beings did they become expendable?  And why?  When and how did any of us drop them from being a part of the human race?  Do you notice that all of the above mentioned groups have one thing in common: they are relatively powerless over their own lives?  You and I may not be considered expendable now, but we surely could be in the future due to changing life circumstances.

While we all must maintain some responsibility for our own condition due to life choices we make, as all children created by God - like it or not - we remain connected to each other as family of the human race.  As has been said, a society is only civilized to the degree to which it takes care of its poor and powerless.  Would it shock you to know the US, out of 150 nations, ranks 62nd in health care, just above Slovenia?  It's because, as a people, we not only have a concept of "expendable people" but we actually self-righteously nurture it.  For his part, Jesus too dealt with probably the same expendable people of his time as we do ours, only the Bible tends to lump them all under such terms as "tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners."  For Christ, everyone was considered redeemable and worthy to remain a part of the human race.  He didn't leave anyone behind, not even the Pharisees, because he knew in the eyes of God, we're all interconnected and we should act like it.

 

 ‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.  And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.  The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham.  The rich man also died and was buried.  In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.  He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.”  But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.  Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.”  He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.”  Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.”  He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.”  He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” ’

 

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’  Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.