Spring Message: His Hands and Feet

by Paster Eliot Fay

"Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good..." ~Saint Teresa of Avila

Many years ago in seminary I happened to hear an anecdote shared during a lecture that has remained with me over the years. This story has served as a nice reminder of the importance and the power of Jesus’ exhortation to love our neighbor. Though there are times, of course, that we would like to limit our understanding of who our neighbor is to those folks who who are “neighborly” in their attitudes toward us, Jesus does not allow this restriction. He makes clear at numerous points throughout the gospels that God would have us love all people – no matter how frustrating, irritating, off-putting or different from me or you they happen to be.

And more challenging even than the breadth of who we are called to love is the manner in which we are called to love them: in a word- selflessly. In the parable of the good Samaritan, the Samaritan reached across religious, social and cultural lines and incurred financial loss with no expectation of repayment, thanks, or commendation. It is revealing that Jesus didn't provide a checklist of requirements to complete or a time limit on how long we are to love someone without reciprocation before we can cross them off the “neighbor list” and move on. It is also helpful to notice that Jesus didn't limit our call to love only to his followers. God's love extends to all. Since he has chosen to use us as his hands and feet in this world, our love should mirror his. And as we love our neighbors well we embody the light of the gospel in our world. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I have...

Many years ago, a missionary arrived in a village in Serbia. In the weeks following his arrival, he met an elderly townsperson who in no uncertain terms told him that he wished to have nothing to do with him or his Christ. He recounted the dreadful history of the church in his town, where church leaders had plundered, exploited, and even killed innocent people. He told the missionary, "They wear elaborate clothes and crosses, but their evil designs and lives I cannot ignore."

The missionary replied with a question - “Suppose I were to steal your coat, put it on, and break into a bank. Suppose further that the police sighted me running in the distance but could not catch up with me. One clue, however, put them onto your track: they recognized your coat. What would you say to them if they came to your house and accused you of breaking into the bank?"

"I would deny it," said the townsperson!

But the missionary countered, "'Ah, but we saw your coat,' they would say." The analogy, understandably, annoyed the townperson. Even so, over the years the two men eventually became friends as the missionary regularly, and often thanklessly, sought opportunities to encourage and support the townperson and his neighbors. One day many years later as the two men sat talking together, the townperson turned to the missionary and said, "Thank you for being my friend...you wear His coat very well.”

Let us also strive in our lives to wear God’s coat well. Blessings to you all, and happy Summer