Showing Others

Gospel: John 12: 20-33

Some strangers approach a disciple of Jesus and say: "We want to see Jesus."   In the Gospel story, the request is rather simple to fulfill: he just takes them to see Jesus who is nearby.  They have the opportunity to see and hear Jesus in the flesh.  They had heard about Jesus through a number of rumors, but now as they came to Jerusalem for the great pilgrimage festival, they can now see and hear Jesus for themselves.

But now suppose a group of strangers comes up to you and says: "We want to see Jesus." What is your response? Some might take them to a church building and put them before the tabernacle where the Eucharist resides.  Others might give them a Bible and begin a lengthy exposition of its contents.  Still others may suggest prayer and offer some techniques of meditation such as lectio divina or imaginative prayer.  

But they asked to see Jesus.  They do not want a symbolic or mental representation of Jesus.  They want to see Jesus.  The only way to show others Jesus is to live as Jesus did - to do deeds of mercy and loving kindness to others: to heal others in body, mind, and spirit; to feed them in their hunger; clothe their nakedness; satisfy their thirst; be with them in their loneliness and alienation.  Then they will see Jesus in you.