Wherever Suffering Exists, My Face is there.

(Homily for March 6, 2017).

In the sixth Station of the Cross, Veronica wiped the face of Jesus, a face which had become completely disfigured by the blows, kicks, and slaps, a face from which flowed blood and tears freely and its skin falling apart. In that station, we hear Jesus ask: “Can you be brave enough to wipe my bloody face?” “Where is your face?” you may ask, and I will answer “at home, at work, in the streets, in market corners, wherever suffering exists, my face is there and there I look for you to wipe away my blood and tears.”

Growth in the spiritual life is ability to see Jesus in others and especially the poor, the less privileged, the outcasts and those rejected by society. This is the essence of holiness, the summary of the entire commandments and the basis on which we shall be judged at the end of time. Christ will welcome us into Paradise because we wiped away his tears and blood in the face of the naked, the homeless, the hungry, the sick, the imprisoned and the thirsty. As our first reading encourages us, no one is undeserving of our love: “…You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great… You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason with your neighbour, lest you bear sin because of him…but you shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Leviticus 19:15-18

As Pope Francis pointed in his message for Lent this year, we become like the rich man who was blind to Lazarus at his door step when we fail to recognise others as a gift. Christ is not so far from you; he is very close to you, in the face of that child who is crying relentlessly, in the face of that man sitting by your gate who has not eaten since yesterday, in the face of boy with a terrible sore unable to go to the hospital for lack of funds. Touch Christ in the poor, adore him in the poor, worship and pray to him in the poor and he would be there for you when you need him.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, help me to always see your face in Lazarus at my doorstep. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the first week of Lent. Bible Study: 19:1-2, 11-18 and Matthew 25:31-46).

Fr. Abu.