Can You Recognize Jesus When He is in Disguise?
Helping our brothers and sisters in need does not end by giving them alms. It is truly fulfilled when we listen to them and when we attend to them with the time effort and resources needed to alleviate their burden.
Quite often, however, this is not an easy thing to do. We may be asked to help someone when we’re in the middle of a project. We may need to listen to the concerns of someone when we’re also having a bad day. How do we respond then?
We must always try to respond with love
We respond with the way we wish to be treated. We have often wanted to be invited to famous gatherings. We would certainly feel honored when we’re invited by the head of the city or by a king or queen.
Why refuse Jesus when He comes to us as one who thirsts and needs our company?
There are times when we wonder where God could be found
Could we really love Him even if we do not see Him? Where could we possibly find Him?
We can look for Jesus in money and we won’t find Him there. We can look for Jesus in success and we won’t find Him there. We can look for Jesus in pleasure and we won’t find Him there.
But try to fix your gaze elsewhere
Look for Him among the humble and among the poor. Look for Him among those who are children at heart. Look for Him among those who are sick and helpless. Look for Him among those who are yearning to be loved.
Suddenly, you are not alone anymore. You are not trapped within yourself anymore. You realize that you can give something. Your life matters. Jesus waits for you, and you can finally touch His face.
“Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.” — Mother Teresa
“Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’” (Matthew 25:34–36, WEB)
