When it comes do doing great and wonderful things for God, we often think of becoming a minister or priest or going to a foreign land. How wonderful it would be to travel to a distant land bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ! I can think of many saints who traveled around the world, and even to North America bringing the love of Jesus. While many think of this as disrespecting and changing the indigenous people and forcing European ways on them, not every missionary was awful. Many fought for the rights of indigenous people to preserve their culture. Pope Gregory even went as far to say that when bringing Christ to other lands, that we should not do away with their customs. Thus, we cling to ghosts and goblins on Halloween, rabbits and chicks at Easter, and special celebrations with the changing of the seasons. But I digress.
Mother Teresa is a good example of how we ought to go about serving others. I can’t imagine her asking any of those she served if they were Christian, Muslim, or Hindu or atheist. She simply shared Christ’s love with them, recognizing God in them regardless. She saw the brokenness of Jesus, as well as her own brokenness in them and offered them comfort. As a counselor I can honestly say that I see my own brokenness in those I counsel. It is only by the grace of God that my patient is not the doctor, and I am the patient.
Do we need to go to foreign lands to do heroic things? Must I go out of my way to seek those I can allow Jesus to rescue through me? Many years ago, when I was teaching a confirmation class, the pastor wanted each student to find someone they could “rescue” as part of their training. The students were baffled. Who could they rescue? After all they were teenagers! As we were praying and pondering, it dawned on them that they were each members of families and had many friends. Perhaps these are the people who we can rescue.
I think if we pray and ask God to “open our eyes” that we will be less blind to the people in our own families and social groups and our neighborhoods who could be rescued. What about the elderly who need a helping hand or listening ear? Who needs a ride? Maybe we can help at a soup kitchen, or food pantry. Donating to worthy causes is a good thing. We don’t need to ask if they know Jesus, because Jesus knows them. The old saying that we should, “Bloom where we are planted.” Works for us to help others. So, we pray, “Open our eyes, help us to see your face.- in others.” When you pray this prayer, Jesus will show you everyday how you can find Jesus in the close people around you. Rescue them by doing things for them. “Jesus, help me to be a better husband, father, brother, uncle, grandpa and friend.”
“May the Lord bless and keep you. May he let his face shine upon you, be gracious to you and give you his peace.”
