|
"Who do you say that I am?"(Mt.16:13-20)
Words that I will never forget, and you wouldn't either if you had had my experience. For when I remember Jesus ... how he looked at me when he asked that question ... and how easily I replied,
"You are Christ, the Son of the living God,"
I am embarrassed. Looking back at the incident, I am not sure that
I really understood what I was saying. It was easy to say the words,
but what did they actually mean to me?
Indeed, Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God.
However, knowing that was not enough for me ... What I really wanted to know was, "Where do I find Jesus?" Knowing my thoughts,
again Jesus looked at me, as only he can do and said,
"You find me:
... in the social and cultural devastation of Iraq ,
... in the wound inflicted in the hearts of the people in Iraq ,
... in the Iraqi Dominican Sisters - salt and leaven in Iraq ,
... in the refugees of Albania ,
... in the people who have suffered greatly because of natural disasters ,
... in the "Communities of the Holy Preaching" as they spread the good news ,
... in the faces of the poor and homeless ,
... in the person sitting next to you ,
... in those persons on death row as they wait for execution ,
... in those suffering personal tragedy ,"
Again, Jesus looked at me, as only he can do, and said,
"Go out and find all these people, for if you are indifferent to my face in your neighbor, you will never find me."
As I look back and remember Jesus, what he said, and how he looked at me,
I try to double my effort to put into practice all that he said to me.
And may I suggest that you do the same. For in doing so, we will certainly receive the grace to SEE THE FACE OF JESUS IN EVERYONE WE MEET.
Marie Fertitta, O.P. |
