Living Faith

"Each one of them is Jesus in disguise." Mother Teresa

One day Jesus was speaking to his disciples. He told them that he was in prison and they didn't visit him, he was naked and they didn't clothe him, he was thirsty and they didn't bring him as much as a cup of water. They were astonished and asked him when did this all happen, because they couldn't remember. Surely if their Lord was in need they would try to do something about it. He answered that because they had not taken care of the "least" of those in society, they had not cared for him.

A few years ago I worked with a woman whose husband was a minister. She bowed her head in the break room before she ate her lunch. She didn't swear and she never laughed at an off-color remark or joke. If you asked her how her weekend was, she would tell you what happened at church. Wednesday night she had to be out the door at 5:00 sharp, because that was prayer meeting night. Her assistant went on maternity leave and the temp agency sent her someone. This young woman was a single mother who had never been married. She took cigarette breaks and her tops were a little too revealing, her skirts a little too short. She was a hard worker and tried to do her best, and the pastor's wife never would cut her a break. She criticized her endlessly for the most trivial things and gossiped about her in a most judgmental way behind her back. I wonder if she knew this woman had fled a physically abusive relationship. I wonder if she knew her assistant was renting a room in someone's home, that she and her two-year-old slept in the same bed for lack of room. I wonder if she knew what a struggle it was to pay for good day care. I wonder if she had any idea what a paycheck meant to this young woman, how important it was for her to be able to perform at this job so she and her child could eat. It's sad to me, because the religious woman had the most amazing opportunity. Right outside her office sat a person who was Jesus in disguise. All the love and devotion she felt for her Lord should have poured out to this young woman who was badly in need of some grace.

Susan