The Poor and the Marginalized:
Love Looks for Christ Among “the Least of These”
“Are there no prisons?” he had sneered. “And the Union workhouses — are they still in operation?”
(Scrooge, A Christmas Carol, Stave 1)
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Advent Day 20 — The Poor and the Marginalized: Love Looks for Christ Among “the Least of These”
Theme: Love looks for Christ among “the least of these.“
In A Christmas Carol, Dickens directs our attention again and again toward those living on the margins — the Cratchits struggling to make ends meet, Tiny Tim frail yet full of faith, and the countless poor whose plight Scrooge once dismissed with cold contempt.
“Are there no prisons?” he had sneered. “And the Union workhouses — are they still in operation?”
But after his encounters with the three Spirits, the veil is lifted. Scrooge sees them — really sees them — not as statistics or inconveniences, but as fellow souls, beloved of God. His heart, once numb, now burns with compassion. He becomes, in Dickens’ words, “as good a man, as good a friend, as good a master, as the good old city knew.”
Dickens understood something profound about the gospel: true love is not abstract. It takes form in mercy, generosity, and justice. He may have criticized the church of his day for its lack of compassion, but his pen still pointed to Christ — the One who took on flesh and lived among the poor, the outcast, and the forgotten.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 remind us that love for Him is inseparable from love for others, especially the least and the lowly. To follow Christ is to find Him in unexpected places — in the cold and hungry, the overlooked and misunderstood.
This is the love Advent calls forth: not sentimental affection, but self-giving compassion. The love that drove God to enter our poverty and share our suffering is the same love that now sends us into the world as His hands and heart.
Take a moment today to look upon the artwork curated for this devotional — perhaps a scene of the Cratchit family gathered around their humble feast, or a painting of Christ serving the poor. Then, listen to today’s selections on the Advent Playlist — songs like “What Child Is This” or “When Love Came Down.” As you do, let your heart be stirred toward acts of mercy.
Ask the Spirit to show you someone in need — materially, emotionally, or spiritually — and consider how you might be Christ’s love to them this week.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You chose poverty so that we might inherit the riches of Your grace. Teach me to see You in every person — especially in those the world overlooks. Break my heart for what breaks Yours, and move my hands to acts of compassion. May my love be more than words; let it become a living witness of Your presence among “the least of these.” In Your holy name, Amen.
O Come, O Come Immanuel
Latin Hymn, 12th century
Translated by John M. Neale (1818-1866)
O Come, O Come Immanuel
Latin Hymn, 12th century
Translated by John M. Neale (1818-1866)
Playlist Daily Highlight
We’ve provided multiple versions of this classic Christmas carol. Listen to your favorite style, but also try something new!
See if you find a new appreciation for this song or a different version than what you’re used to.
Take the time to listen . . . really listen to the words of this song and reflect on them. Let God speak to you in this moment.