Ordinary Time 
Pause
“If God had a face what would it look like? […]
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?”
Joan Osborne, “One of Us”
This 90s pop song poses thought-provoking questions. What does God look like? How do we know if God is in our midst? Would we recognize Jesus if he were sitting beside us? The Spirit of God is in our midst today, but do we take the time to see God there?
Let us take time now to focus on being people of God who recognize and welcome Jesus, not only in our hearts but also into our daily living.
Listen
"Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Matthew 25:41-46
Think
Stopped at the light at the intersection, I saw a man holding the sign, “Hungry. Would love some food. God Bless You.” I looked at the man. His clothing was torn; it looked like he hadn’t showered for a few days. As I waited for the light to turn green, I started to wonder, what should I do? Here is a man in need. Do I give money to this man who could use a few extra dollars, do I go buy him a meal at a nearby fast food place, or do I just turn up my radio and look in the other direction?
“What if God was one of us, just a slob like one of us?” What is at stake when we don’t recognize Jesus in our midst? What is at stake when we don’t serve those who are most in need around us?
Jesus says eternal life is at stake when we choose not to care for the least of those around us. Welcoming Jesus in our lives means doing what he asks of us: to look for Jesus around us, in those who need our help the most, and to go take care of them.
Elizabeth Cluff
Pray
Gracious and merciful God, you are in our midst whenever I see those who are sick, hurting, lonely, and needy. Sometimes I wonder if it is me whom you are calling to help them. Give me strength to be your servant by serving those who are in need. Give me the courage to go out of my comfort zone and to help your people. Amen.
Go
Where do you see God in your life today? Go out looking for God in your midst. Say hello to your Lord!
If you don’t see God, then maybe God is calling YOU to be Jesus for someone else. Open the door for a stranger, put down your phone to say hello to the cashier at the store, help someone out just because.
Wherever you go, God is sending you there for a reason!
