Being the Face of Christ There is a legend which recounts the return of Jesus to glory after his time on earth. He bore the marks of his cruel cross and shameful death. The angel Gabriel approached him and asked, “Master, do they know all about how you loved them and what you did for them?” “No,” replied Jesus, “not yet. Right now only a handful of people in Palestine know.” Gabriel was perplexed. “Then what have you done to let everyone know about your love for them?” Jesus said, “I’ve asked Peter, James, John, Mary, Martha and a few others to tell people about me. Those who are told will tell others, and my story will be spread throughout the earth. Ultimately, all humankind will know about my love.” Gabriel frowned and looked rather skeptical. He well knew what poor stuff humans were made of. He said, “But what if Peter denies you again? What if they all run away again in the face of opposition? What if Peter and James and John grow weary? What if the people who come after them forget? What if way down in the twenty-first century people just don’t tell others about you? Do you have another plan?” Jesus answered, “No. I’m counting on them.” It is centuries later and God still has no other plan. In our gospel, Jesus describes for us an intimate and inexplicable relationship which calls us to be in communion with one another. As members of a community, we are called to attend to those beyond ourselves. We are called to be the face of Christ for each other.
It Happened at a Meeting “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind” (Acts 2:1-2a). I have often said, “If when I die, I have to attend another meeting….” I cannot make plans without first checking my calendar to make sure there is not another meeting. So often, I feel overwhelmed by the multiplicity of meetings. And at times I wonder if they are just a waste of time. Would life be any different if I didn’t have those meetings? However, I need to keep something in mind-Pentecost, the feast we celebrate this Sunday-happened at a meeting! One of the central events of our faith, that which has shaped our history, did not happen to an individual off praying alone. No, Pentecost happened to a community assembled in prayer, a faithful group waiting for God’s guidance. I am reminded that God’s grace breaks through not in just those quiet moments, but also in those meeting rooms. Can meetings be the upper room where we are gifted with the Spirit? Where we wait for God to do something through us , something we can’t do alone, for the common good? Yes it has been my experience. It has been the experience of the Ursuline Sisters. When gathered together, the gifts of the Spirit explode and are poured out all for the common good. So the next time I go to a meeting I will be awaiting the Spirit’s gifts to make happen in our world what our faith envisions.
Love One Another as I Have Loved You We too readily read that simplistically, romantically. But this command from Jesus contains the most important challenge of a Christian’s life – to love those who hate us; to love those whom we don’t like. What about the people whom we avoid and those who avoid us? What about those towards whom we feel resentment – Am I to love them? If we can love them, we are real lovers. The one thing Jesus asks of us is to love our neighbor. How would you rate this assignment on a difficulty scale from 1-10?