Christ is YELLING!

Today's Readings

"But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.,,, Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ?"              - John 7: 10,26

If Christ were in the room, would you recognize Him?  As we continue to get to know Pope Francis, we have been thrown into an opportunity to reconsider how we view the "poor".  With the Holy Father leading the way, we are being treated to a perspective which advocates that each man, woman and child truly matters, no matter the status, and no matter which side of the street they are on... All are loved by God!

In today's Gospel, Jesus has to make the decision to visit the Temple in disguise, as folks were trying to kill him.  He avoided arrest, and no one laid a hand upon him "because his hour had not yet come." (John 7:30)  Many questioned whether it was him or not, and even though he spoke openly, no one seemed to truly recognize him, so Jesus YELLED OUT!  "You know me, and also know where I am from." (John 7:28)  And you can fill in the rest... Why are you not seeing me, and accepting me?  Why are you not walking with me, or seeking to do the will of the One who sent me?

Dare I say, Christ continues to YELL at the top of his voice, in the lives of the poor, and in the faces of the children!  Mother Teresa said that "each one of them is Jesus in disguise."  The Gospel speaks directly to us when it asks, "Could the authorities [that is you and me, and our expert opinions on all things religious, political, and such] have realized that he is the Christ?" (John 7:26)

Pope Francis spoke to this challenge in his first homily on Thursday, March 14, 2013, calling on us to recognize that Christ is indeed in our midst, calling on us to walk, build and profess his holy name.  He said, "The same Peter who confessed Jesus Christ, says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. I will follow you, but let us not speak of the Cross. This has nothing to do with it.” He says, “I’ll follow you on other ways, that do not include the Cross.” When we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, and when we profess Christ without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly, we are bishops, priests, cardinals, Popes, but not disciples of the Lord."

This definitive challenge to the Church (that means you and me) declares that we are to recognize the face of Christ, and be ready to help carry the burden for all who need his love.  To not recognize him, as we all are prone to do, or not do the job that needs to be done in his name, makes us the ignorant authority!  So Christ continues to YELL into our ears, "You know me, and also where I am from!" (John 7:28)  LET'S GET TO WORK!

"I listen to the wind, to the wind of my soul." - Cat Stevens