"Through the Eyes of Jesus" Matthew 25:31-40 2/27/05

There was a woman named Mary Glover. She was listening to the radio as someone speaking at a press conference made the statement that there were no hungry people in America. The day was Saturday and Mary was on her way to her volunteer job at Sojourners Neighborhood Center about one and half miles from the White House in Washington D.C. As she arrived at the center she saw the three hundred families standing in line to receive a bag of groceries that was critical to getting them through the week. Just before the doors open for people to enter, those who worked at the center helping prepare the food and getting the bags together join hands and say a prayer. Today Mary. one of the best pray-ers, and a woman who knew what it was like to be poor began the prayer. She first thanks God for another day, as she puts it "Another day to serve you, Lord." Her prayer then echos in the room "Lord, we know that you'll be coming through this line today, Lord, help us to treat you well."

Mary knows the meaning of Jesus' words when Jesus says: "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.

"Just as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers or sisters you did it to me" (Matthew 25:40)

What would our world be like if we saw Jesus in the eyes of everyone we meet each day? To adopt the spirit of Christ, to live as Jesus did we must learn to see the eyes of Jesus in the people we meet each day. Picture for a moment the people that you meet in a day's time. Your lover, partner, family members. The people at your work place, your school, the people you meet in the grocery store, on the bus, in the doctor's office. Look deeply can you see the eyes of Jesus. In the person who is different from you in beliefs, color, life's walk, the homeless, the one who is confined to a nursing home, behind prison walls. The eyes of Jesus look back at us in our loved ones, friends, strangers and even our enemies. To see Jesus in others is to respect our differences. To see Jesus in the eyes of one another is to reach out with a love that will go the extra mile. To see Jesus in the eyes of the stranger is to say we are more alike than different. To see Jesus in the eyes of our enemies is to work for peace in the midst of conflict. "Lord, we know that you'll be coming through our lives today, Lord, help us to treat you well."

To love as Jesus did we must not only see the eyes of Jesus in others but also see through the eyes of Jesus. The eyes of Jesus looked with compassions on all of God's people. The eyes of Jesus saw those who were considered the poor and weak. The eyes of Jesus saw the children who needed God's care. The eyes of Jesus saw those who were considered outcasts and welcomed them to the best seats at the banquet table. The eyes of Jesus saw with a love that accepted the people Jesus met just as they were. In all their giftedness, in all that made them truly human.

Our whole life journey is entering into the mystery that we become the eyes of Jesus, we become the hands of Jesus, we become the heart of Jesus, that our body becomes the body of Christ. Through our actions, by our words, we take the precious body of Christ to those we meet.

Someone once said: "You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person." Who is it that needs to meet the presence of Christ through your life this week? I believe God places people in our lives who need what we have to offer at that time in their life's journey. Whether that is for a moment's encounter sitting enjoying our morning coffee. Whether that is for a lifetime of cherished memories. Or if it is somewhere in between. There is someone who needs what you have to give and that means all the world to them.

Each week in Lent I have been giving you a scripture verse to live out during that week. We began with

"YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." (Luke 10:27)

Last week our scripture verse was:

"JUST AS YOU DID IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BROTHERS OR SISTERS YOU DID IT TO ME." (Matthew 25:40)

On your journey this week may you see the eyes of Jesus in the people that you meet as you about your daily activities. Ask God to send you the person who needs what you have to give. As you look through the eyes of Jesus you will see the world in a whole new way. May you live out Mary Glover's prayer: "Lord, we know that you’ll be coming through our lives today, Lord, help us to treat you well."