Jesus in the "distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor" as Mother Teresa always said

My dear friend and spiritual director, Fr. Bill, as some of you know, passed away a couple of months ago. According to his niece, he is still receiving Christmas cards at his house. She emailed me this morning and told me of a person who sent Fr. Bill a card and hand wrote this note inside:

"Dear Father,

Everyone I’m sure has always looked to you and ask for prayers! I am first wondering how you are doing and I hope that you are well? I sure wish you were around (she must mean that he is no longer at our parish because he retired several years ago).

At this time I am totally and permanently disabled. I do not quality for SSDs due to 2 injuries. I don’t get Social Security, too young and have no income. I’m using the little bit I have to try to save my home, no health insurance, meds are $6,500.00 and more per year. Car broke down, now no refrigerator. Problem with my son, I have a workers compensation case and injury but they maybe too late coming to save me and my home and my animals and son. I need a St. Jude Novena and am too ill in bed to get to Church to meet the requirements. Would you please pray to St. Jude and baby Jesus to get God’s help. I want to live out my life with peace of mind and own roof over my head and better health for us. So sorry to have to ask you for help. I have no family left. Love, ****"(I have left her name out).

This woman apparently did not know that dear Fr. Bill had died. But, now we have before us "Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor" as Mother Teresa has always said. I have this woman's address from the card and I will find her and go over to see her. I have also alerted my pastor so that we can arrange meals and help. PLEASE pray for this woman and of course, all of those who are in difficult situations right now at Christmas time. Pray also for the mother I told you about that is planning to abort her baby today. PLEASE, please pray for all of the poorest of the poor who surround us and have so many needs. Calcutta is in our midst. We have to open our eyes and ears to see and hear their pleas. We need to respond in love, especially when we are so busy. They are JESUS living in one another. Will we go to greet HIM? Will we show HIM our love?

God bless you!

A new day to find Jesus right in our midst

Thank you dear Lord for this new day! A new day in which to serve you and to love my neighbor.

Mother Teresa once said, "It is very possible that you will find human beings, surely very near you, needing affection and love. Do not deny them these. Show them, above all, that you sincerely recognize that they are human beings, that they are important to you. Who is that someone? That person is Jesus himself: Jesus who is hidden under the guise of suffering!"

Mother Teresa served Jesus in all whom she met. Her work amongst the poor was extraordinary, but we too are called to serve the poor - the "poor" in our own families first and foremost, then we go out and serve the "poor" in our neighborhoods and communities. Yes, these poor are Jesus himself!

That grouchy person who may live in our own households, that "annoying" person we may know, that inconsiderate driver who almost ran us off the road, that co-worker who belittles our faith, that sister, brother or priest in our convent or rectory that we do not see "eye to eye" with, that homeless person we see almost everyday; these are the poor around us that we must love, serve, and pray for. Jesus calls us to a radical love. When we allow Jesus to love through us and when we truly see Jesus living in others--then the miracles will begin. Sometimes the love that we need to give others is shown in silence, in listening to the other's worries, concerns, even ranting, showing we care. In some cases, this love may be in not retaliating, rather "holding our tongue," showing love in exchange for the "dart," at other times we may offer some words, gestures or something more tangible. Of course, prayers offered in every situation are always beneficial.

Along with the miracles and transformations of hearts that occur when we allow Jesus to love through us will also come much grace for us and for our neighbor. We should find comfort in one of Mother Teresa's favorite Gospel messages: "'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me,ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for the least brothers of mine, you did to me.'" (Matthew 25: 24-40)

We must remember that it is no coincidence that God has put us where we are in our lives, with the various people that surround us. Self knowledge unfolds for us in our dealings with others and in our responses to them. Let us look around us and open our eyes to see who we may be forgetting to show our love to or are having difficulty doing so. We must love until it hurts. God will always give us sufficient grace. Every ordinary day is yet another opportunity to serve our Lord and his "poor" in an extraordinary way.