Picturing the Hands of Christ

Have you ever wondered what Jesus looked like?  We have pictures around that show Jesus as black, white, Asian, beard, no beard, blue-eyed, brown-eyed.  From all the artwork we have, it is obvious that people throughout time have wondered about how the Messiah looked.

I personally think about the smaller details.  How he possibly could have had dusty, dirty, calloused feet from walking the roads of the Galilee.  Did his muscles hurt from the exertion or was he used to the exercise?  Perhaps he wore one cloak and tunic for traveling, but did he have another for when he had dinner at people's homes?  What must he have been thinking when he looked upon our world with its greed, violence, sorrow, and silliness? 

Have you ever wondered what the Messiah's hands looked like? As he reached out to put mud on the eyes of the blind; as he broke the bread for the Passover, as he gestured toward Jerusalem?  After all these hands healed the sick, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind and strength to the legs of the lame.

Episcopal priest, Rev. Noelle York-Simmons wondered.  She did this reflection and sermon in photographs asking the question "What is the most important thing you do with your hands?"


Teresa of Avila wrote this words:

Christ Has No Body
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Have you ever wondered what Jesus looked like?  Look around you...

Positive Musings and Ramblings

 

I have been kind of silent recently because sometimes it is better to keep your musings and ramblings to yourself.  Sometimes it doesn't help to express all your thoughts, especially in such a public forum as a blog.  With the current environment of politics, religion, and changes happening in the world, I have decided to not weigh in on all the negativity.  The media makes its living feeding the negativity, and we without discipline overeat all the media feeds us. 

With that confession, I also feel a need to bring about some positivity.  How many times have we been in a poor economic situation, only to discover the goodness in people?  How many times have we disagreed with someone politically or theologically, only to discover they are the one there for us when times are rough?  We need to be more focused on the positive, in others, in ourselves, in the world.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.     Philippians 4:4-8