Jesus, Was That You?

On my way home from work this afternoon I stopped briefly at the grocery store. I picked up a few things and at the register took a small cash withdrawal with my debit card to give me some cash over the weekend. As I approached the exit to the parking lot, I saw him from a distance. Lately, it is not uncommon to see a guy like this standing at a busy intersection with a sign, begging for money. His sign said, "Homeless. Need money for food for my family. Have two kids. Please help."

I pulled up right next to him at the stop sign and reached for my purse, hoping the light would stay red for a bit. I quickly retrieved the money I had withdrawn for the weekend. I tapped my horn and opened the passenger-side window. The middle-aged man came over to the window and smiled at me with a big smile, ridden with spaces where teeth were missing. He looked as if he hadn't shaved in days, and I'm sure his teeth hadn't been brushed in as long. Yet, his eyes were so appreciative and he offered God's blessing to me.

I drove away feeling very close to You, Jesus. I thought of how many disguises You come in every day. I wondered how many times I see You in the day and turn the other way. I felt love for this man who had fallen between the cracks of society; whose luck had somehow failed him. I wondered where he bedded his little family each night, and how he keeps his children warm. I thought about how little I had given him, that it wouldn't even pay for one meal for that family. I hoped in my heart that others would see him and not merely pass him by. And then I prayed, "Jesus, was that You?"

The Face of Christ

If I could but touch your face; dry the tears that have streamed down it, and wipe away the drops of blood that mark it, it would bring me immense joy. If I could take away the pain that I see in your eyes; the pain caused by the sins you saw in the garden; the evil committed by the very ones you loved the most while on earth, I would do it in an instant. If I could steal the worry from the wrinkle in your brow, as you anticipate the agony you are about to endure for my sake, and the sake of all mankind, I would do this for you, dear Jesus. If I could moisten your parched lips and wipe your aching forehead as you gasp for your final breaths, I would be there in a moment to ease your sufferings, oh my sweet and holy King. How can I take your face in my hands and comfort it as you hang upon that terrible cross and die for my salvation; the face I love so dearly; the face I imagine even in my dreams; the face I look upon on the crucifix in church and desire so to caress and comfort? Jesus, take what I can offer you now; merely a humble and contrite heart, willing to give everything to you. Accept this servant's love and contrition for all my faults. Know that I give myself in covenant love to you in all I do. Know that it is my desire to answer your call whatever the price. I am so imperfect and my offering is so meager. Accept it, though, Jesus, for it is all I have to give. Amen.

The Fruits of the Spirit

Someone "bragged" to me the other day that many know him by his "fruits." He used the well-known quotation from Scriptures about some being known by their fruits. (Those would be the ones whom the Father has pruned on the vine who are steeped in the Word and who of course follow the Ten Commandments.) This person is well-known because he is a celebrity. He is a famous singer and sings around the world. His gift of a beautiful voice is definitely a source of honoring God. He also sings on a team of traveling evangelists who head up leadership conferences all over the world. It reminds me of the tele-evangelists of the 70's and 80's.

This individual, when referring to being known for his "fruits," I am sure was referring to the fact that he is famous, receives compliments all the time for his good singing and is known to be part of this evangelization team as well. When we were speaking, he sort of alluded to the fact that I might not be known for "fruits." This individual has also told me that he does not commit actual sin.

While I do not intend to be judgemental, I find this type of attitude in a person, very prideful and dangerous. First of all, no human can claim to be without sin, or this makes a person a god. All people sin, even if it is just in their minds. We all were born with original sin, and although washed away in baptism, concupiscence remains. To be without sin is impossible. Only Jesus and Mary remained without sin. Perhaps as we grow in holiness, we can move toward committing fewer and fewer actual sins, but, sins of ommission and commission are still committed, even if they are small.

Secondly, we have to be very careful of pride. It slips in very sneakily in people. People that are in the public eye often do not see it in themselves. Like the scribes and pharisees, they receive much of their rewards here on earth by the fact that they receive their compliments and praises often from people on earth. It goes to their heads oftentimes without them realizing it. Pride sneaks its ugly head in. It becomes a normal way of thinking. "I'm better than he is..."

And lastly, those of us who try to live humbly and without earthly recognition for the things we do for God, often bear fruit for the Kingdom in small ways. God never said that our fruits had to be huge. Scripture says that the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, generosity, kindness, patience, etc., as outlined in the Holy Scriptures. The "little" people of the world, those who are poor, unrecognized souls, like the ones Jesus often hung around with in his life on earth, or the ones who were later recognized to be saints, weren't always known for the publicly great things that they did, but, they were known for the "little" great things they did. For example, some merely cared quietly for the poor their entire lives. These types of "fruits" fill God's baskets to overflowing. He often loves the "little" ways even more than the big and flashy ways.

I say, love others and be kind to everyone. Spread a smile, give a hug. Do what Jesus would do.

Jesus is the Way

This morning while in prayer, I recalled a vision I had more than a year ago while I was also in prayer. I thought it worthy to write it down. Life is a journey. It is as if we are in a maze. We come upon many obstacles and sometimes get turned in the wrong direction. We must find the path, the correct road, or the "way," so to speak. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life." What was it He meant by this? He meant that it is only by following Him; by doing what He tells us to do (following the ten commandments, love one another, love God first with our whole beings, be baptized and repent, etc.) that we will find true happiness and thus the way to eternal life with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. We are already in the Kingdom of God here on earth, for He often proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was at hand.

Jesus is our "way" to the Father. Only through Him do we meet the Father. For He and the Father are one, as He told us so many times. When the apostles asked when they would see the Father, He repeatedly told them that if they have seen Him, they have seen the Father. And the Third Person, the Holy Spirit, would be with them, until the end of time, to open their eyes to even more of the Truth. We must be listening to hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and be ready to do as He inspires us to do for the sake of the Kingdom. This is our job on earth. This is our preparation for the Heavenly Kingdom. We must prepare our souls here to be ready for the eternal banquet at which we will celebrate with all the angels and saints who have gone before us, the never-ending Supper of the Lamb, where there will be joy and happiness and continual praise and worship of Him who is the Paschal Lamb who set us free. Our eyes will rest on the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Lion of Judah. We will have reached our eternal home; the place prepared for us from the beginning of time; our destiny.

So let us continue down that daily path; eyes focussed only on Jesus. For He will lead us to Paradise, just as God led the Israelites to the Promised Land. And He is our bridge to the Father. Thank you, Lord Jesus.