The Face of Christ
Today’s message was written by Guest Pastor, Chaplin Bob Griffiths.
Years ago, when I was based in New York City, I was walking along East 22nd Street one night when I noticed a homeless man standing outside a diner. His legs gave out from under him and down he went. Another man got to him first, and between the two of us, we got him up on his feet again. He was drunk. And I looked into his eyes which were filled with tears, and he said “thank you.” Just, “thank you.” Yet I will never forget that moment and I will never forget that face because it was the face of Christ. It wasn’t until bedtime that something clicked and I remembered: “Inasmuch as you have done it to one the least of these, my brothers, you have done it to me.”
How easy it is for me to judge based on appearances. I’ve worked with the addicted and with the homeless and with the mentally ill but despite their appearance and behavior, they are all children of God and respond to kindness and caring. Think of the people Jesus helped: prostitutes, crazy folks, lepers, the man with a withered hand – certainly considered “the least of these” in his time. We don’t need to be saints, but it’s okay to try a bit. I don’t grow much as a Christian (or a person) by just hanging out in my comfort zone.
Let us pray: Beloved, help us to do our best to treat others as you have taught us to. To ask for your help to move outside our comfort zone and to be an example of the Kingdom of God to those for whom it seems lost. Help us to realize that it’s not what we pray, but what we are that allows you to live in the world. Amen.
Daily Message Author: Bob Griffiths
Bob is the former Chaplain at the Pines of Sarasota, southwest Florida’s oldest and largest not-for-profit senior care facility. Prior to joining the staff in 2010, Bob worked in hospice chaplaincy for seven years. He is the past Spiritual Life Director at St. Boniface Episcopal Church, Sarasota and is an Associate of the Order of the Holy Cross, an Episcopal Benedictine religious order.
