have you seen Jesus today?

Today is Good Friday, a day to pause and reflect on how Love came down, dwelt among us, taught us all about God, showed us by word and example of what is expected of us, and yet was cruelly mocked, whipped, scourged and crucified as if He were nothing more than a common criminal. Stoically, He bore it all. He came back to us on the third day, admonishing us to "go, make disciples of every nation, baptizing them in the Name of the Father."

If not for Jesus, His life, death and resurrection, there would be no Easter, no joyful hope of a wonderful future.

In today's world, how do you see Jesus? If you are looking for a triumphant return filled with miracles, flowers flowing from heaven and everyone sipping from the proverbial wine glass, maybe you'd better look again. Jesus is in the homeless person, looking for a warm bed. Jesus is in the beggar who is hungry, in the convicted felon whose attitude just gave him 25 to life behind bars. Jesus is in the bullied schoolchild, yes, but Jesus lives in the bully as well. Jesus is in the oppressed in third world countries. Jesus is in the tax collectors of today, the sinners, the people of other colors, creeds, genders the disabled, as well as the able bodied. Jesus is in you and me. Jesus did not say, "if you are Catholic, I will come back for you." Jesus did not say, "if you Caucasian, Lutheran and rich, I will come back for you." No, rather, Jesus, said for us to go baptize ALL nations...ALL peoples, in the Name of the Father." We are all included in Jesus' circle of Life...we only need to drop all of our old ways, leave behind our sinful desires and follow Him.

Again I ask you...have you seen Jesus today? Who have you turned your back on, who have you spit upon, who have you cancelled out of your life? Read Luke 18:9-14 for inspiration. Look at those whom you may have OVERLOOKED. You just may be surprised at what...or WHO you will see. Amen.

9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”