In today’s world, if we want to know what someone looks like before we meet them, it’s probably not hard to find an image somewhere online. Social media would be an obvious first stop, but Googling a name can also bring up articles or company directories or a yearbook where pictures are accessible, too. It’s unlikely you would have to wonder long.
We’ve all probably seen or read “old” movies or books where two people meeting for the first time – without the benefit of the internet -- need some sort of identifier so they know who they are looking for. For instance one might tell the other, “I’ll be the blonde with the red carnation” or “I’ll be the 6’2” guy with a blue umbrella” or “I’ll be the one with short brown hair holding a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird.” What do you think people would look for if you said, “I’ll be the Christian?”
Maundy Thursday commemorates when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and shared the Last Supper. It is here he also reminds his disciples to love one another after he is gone. But it’s the suggestion afterward where I find an additional gem – “by this everyone will know that you are my disciples.”
As Christians,
showing love to one another
IS our identifier. Showing love IS our blonde hair, our red carnation, our 6’2” frame, our blue umbrella, our short brown hair, our copy of To Kill a Mockingbird … by showing love, we show who we are, because we show who Jesus is.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Help us show love to one another so that the world might know that We.Are.Yours. Amen.
Deanna Heise
