Reading
And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:40
Reflection
Not long after his election, Pope Francis made headlines. He did that a lot, especially in the early days of his papacy. Typically when religious leaders make headlines, it’s not for good reasons. Most often, it seems, they make headlines for actions that are inconsistent with what they publicly profess—their actions look nothing like Jesus.
That was not the case with Pope Francis. He made headlines for quite the opposite reason: in a world that has grown cynical toward organized religion, he shocked people because his actions looked so much like Jesus.
At this particular event, the late Pope was greeted by a man whose skin was covered by boils. Pope Francis did not hesitate. He wrapped the man in an embrace that lasted for more than a minute before taking the man’s face in his hands and kissing it.
When the Pope was confronted by a man that many—even loving, well-meaning Christians—would have avoided, the Pope embraced him, embodying the love of Jesus.
Vinicio Riva, the man Francis embraced, described the experience this way: “His hands were soft, soft and beautiful. His smile was welcoming. But what has impressed me the most is that he did not think about whether to hug me or not. I am not contagious but he did not know. He did it and that was it: he caressed my whole face and while he was doing it I only felt love.”
Today, headlines seem to reveal new stories of great suffering by the hour. In such a world, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, like nothing we do could possibly make an impact. Yet in the story of Pope Francis and Mr. Riva, we see the power of one act of love. By embracing Riva, the Pope helped him feel the love of Jesus.
On Sunday, Pastor Robert encouraged us to commit to doing good in Jesus’ name. While we may not capture headlines like Pope Francis, we too can embody Jesus’ love for others in a way that makes all the difference for them.
Who could you bless simply by reaching out and letting them know you see them and appreciate them? You might be surprised at the difference something as simple as a note of encouragement can make. Look for an opportunity to notice and bless someone today.
Prayer
God who sees us,
You notice us even when we feel invisible,
And you embrace us
Even when we feel unlovable.
Give us the eyes to see as you do,
And the heart to love the people others avoid
So that all your people
Might know your loving embrace.
Amen.
