"other christs"
Jesus "summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority to expel unclean spirits and to cure sickness and disease of every kind." —Matthew 10:1
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have Jesus in every city, neighborhood, and family? Jesus would walk among us, proclaim His kingdom of love, heal the sick, drive out demons, and give us salvation. The good news is that Jesus has provided for this very thing. Jesus is personally and powerfully present in millions of places throughout the world through His body, the Church, in a special way as the Eucharist, and in each of His disciples.
Thus, Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). When we live as His disciples by imitating Him, we become "other Christs." We fill the world with Jesus and thereby help the Church become "the fullness of Him Who fills the universe in all its parts" (Eph 1:23). St. Teresa of Avila taught that Jesus has no hands but ours, no feet but ours, no voices but ours, etc. How can Jesus and the Church be strongly present to people who don't acknowledge Jesus' presence, listen to Him, or go to Church? You as disciples of Christ are His "walking tabernacles." You bring Jesus and His body, the Church, to those "without hope and without God in the world" (Eph 2:12).
Be other Christs. Bring hope and life to the lost, suffering, and enslaved. Be His disciples.
Prayer: Father, I offer my body and myself to You (Rm 12:1).
Promise: "It is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain down justice upon you." —Hos 10:12
Praise: Marcie, an elderly woman, brings hope and life to prisoners by sharing God's word with them.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, December 16, 1999
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 18, 1999