As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19
There was a woman in the Old City in Jerusalem, and she was beautiful. Perhaps 83 years old, and her head was covered in the traditional Muslim shawl. She sat on ancient, wet stone steps selling vegetables. It was cold and raining, and I sensed she knew that few of those from those foreign lands would smile, nod their head or look at her. They were too busy rushing to take a selfie at Golgotha or eager to buy that unusual gift from Jerusalem.
She was an immigrant in her own land. One of the nameless, faceless Holy Land objects. But if those who walked by took time, they would notice that her face told a story of pain and joy, hope and loss, love and death. God's hand had painted a story of life on a weathered canvas made of flesh. I was struck by humanity's fragility and the spirit's resiliency.
In my March letter, I asked if our Churches "look like Jesus?' During the following weeks of Lent, I want us also to consider the question: How do we look at the world? I once read that there are two ways of looking at the world. "One takes the world apart, while the other seeks to connect and put it together." Do we look past those that are different? Do we intentionally or unintentionally separate people into the "other?"
As I walk in the footsteps of Christ, I imagine how our Lord looked at all the people in the markets of Jerusalem. I doubt Jesus walked and immediately designated people into groups, social or economic classes, their birthplace, or the language they spoke. I suspect he looked at all of them with compassion and love: rich, poor, religious, doubting, zealots, Romans. Everyone. Jesus looked at their hearts. "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
The early disciples were called people of the way. Let us do the same and follow him along the way. Each day in our places of work and daily life. Encountering one another with curiosity, compassion, kindness, presence, and love. We step into the world willing to engage in sacred encounters and make the connections of the heart. It takes work, requires transformation, and the willingness to first enter the heart of Christ.
This is an opportunity to go deeper; with God and one another. Imagine for one day, if we do not look at every person we encounter as different but with the compassion, curiosity, kindness, presence, and love of Jesus. There, we would take one step further along this pilgrimage to guide humanity closer together as we seek the face of God.
That day in the market, I stepped back and looked. Two Hasidic boys were closing their eyes to enjoy their ice cream. A family from India delighting in the artistry of a hand-woven rug, A young Palestinian boy of 2 reaching for his mom with both arms outstretched. Two teenage girls and one teenage boy from the Israeli Defense Force carrying their weapons and laughing as if they were on their way to college courses. Even that middle-aged woman shouting, "I'm from Texas, the second holy land." All the languages, ages, beliefs, dimensions, colors, and clothes. God's masterpieces unfolding all around me. All their pain, hopes, dreams, and prayers converge. The human and divine, I lost my breath. We are all connected. Blessed are they. All of them. With each step and each action, we can bless the world with our faith. The sacrament of the encounter. That woman in the market and all the beautiful people provide a glorious glimpse of the Kingdom.
I ask that you continue to pray over Luke 15. The three parables in Luke 15: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Prodigal Son. As your pray and read, ask yourself these questions with the emphasis on #5.
1. Is Jesus the only thing that matters in our lives and Church? Or is he among the numerous selections on the drop-down menu of our lives?
2. Who is missing from our Church?
3. How are we searching for them?
4. Are we forgiving? Merciful?
5. How are we different from the world?
6. Is this a place of unconditional belonging and love? Even for those who we may consider “different.”
Let us renew our prayers that our diocese becomes the Church of the Poor and merciful. Together, we follow Jesus along the way and serve as instruments of God's peace. Through Jesus, we seek what he seeks and love what he loves.
A revolution of the heart through Jesus.
(1 Samuel 16:7)