“God In Christ Is Always Near Me!”

“God In Christ Is Always Near Me!”
Priests and Levites were sent from Jerusalem to ask if John the Baptist was the Christ. John “did not fail to confess, but he confessed freely, ‘I am not the Christ.'” They wondered whether he was Elijah or the Prophet but his answer was in the negative. John said he was just a messenger sent to prepare the way for the Lord.
The Pharisees probed him further, “Why then do you baptise if you are not the Christ?” John’s response to this question is our focus today. “I baptise with water, BUT AMONG YOU STANDS ONE YOU DO NOT KNOW. HE IS THE ONE who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie”(Jn.1:19-28). Remember the primary school rhyme? “God is always near me, hearing what I say…”
If only John’s interviewers knew that Jesus the Christ was in their midst they wouldn’t have wasted their time with John. Unfortunately they lacked spiritual insight, so they could not discern the presence of Christ in their midst. He was called “Yeshua”-God saves; “Emmanuel”-God with us. He is always with us, even now “among you stands one you do not know. He is the one…”
We need the eyes of faith to see him in those street urchins, those beggars who litter our streets. We need the eyes of faith to see him in the thousands of framed-up incarcerated prison inmates who need justice but find none! We need the eyes of faith to see him in the hungry poor and destitute around us. We need the eyes of faith to see him in the mistreated and undernourished househelps in our homes!
My friend, Christ is there waiting to seperate the sheep from the goats. The good you do to others, the help you give to those in need and the struggles you put up for the marginalised, oppressed and suppressed people are a recognition of Christ among you. The care and concern for those in need are a recognition of the presence of the Lord (Cf.Mtt.25:31-46).
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit give me discernment to see and know Christ standing among us so I can serve him in word and deed. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!