One day I was sitting in the car while a brother Resurrectionist went into a Starbucks
for coffee and a donut. As I was waiting, I noticed a man sitting on a curb just a stone’s throw from me in front of a podiatrist office. He was a middle-aged man with scraggly grey hair wearing dirty jeans and a grey long sleeve shirt which looked nearly as bad as the pants. His once brown shoes were scruffed and ripped in places. I didn’t notice any socks. He was sitting on the curb slumped over and occasionally made a gesture with his right hand as if he was in conversation with someone. I didn’t see anyone else.
I had hoped that he didn’t see me sitting there in the passenger’s seat in the dark blue Mazda. He’d have probably asked me for money. I was feeling moody and tired for some reason that day. I felt as bad as he looked. Anyway, I just didn’t want to deal with this guy.
My brother C.R. came out of Starbucks with two coffees. I had told him that I didn’t want any. He walked right by the car and crouched down to the eye level of the homeless man. I couldn’t hear what either said. The man reached out, took the coffee. They exchange a few words. My brother Resurrectionist then hopped back into the car and continued a conversation we’d begun earlier. Not a word about what he had just done.
This happened years ago, but I’ve never forgotten his kindness to a person who had not asked him for anything. I also remember that I never even thought of getting involved with that guy.
“I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” Ouch!
You and I have no idea of what Jesus looked like or His mother Mary, either. I have to admit that Our Lord Himself could pass me on the sidewalk today and I’d probably miss him because I simply do not expect Him.
If we could see the face of Jesus in the people we meet every day we’d be closer to putting the gospel into practice. We might see the face of Jesus transfigured before us.