An Unfamiliar Face

An Unfamiliar Face

"The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples and said, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?  Jesus said to them in reply, 'It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance."

After Mass this Sunday, I headed to the hall, where I was looking forward to visiting with my daughter over coffee and a bagel.  I was hurrying through the crowd outside the church doors, when my path was suddenly blocked by a startling woman.  She was severely obese; dressed in gaudy mismatched clothes; had a dark blotchy beard on her chin; and lipstick smeared around her mouth and one side of her neck.  Her eyes were an empty stare.  I pretended I had not seen her, and continued on my hurried pace.

This morning, her Unfamiliar Face visited my prayer thoughts. Even though I had seen her several time in the past, her Face was Unfamiliar, as in outside of my family, outside of my kind, outside of my compassion.   She was an outcast, a troubled and lonely soul.  She was the Face of Jesus, whom I had just received in Eucharist, and yet did not recognize Him in the flesh.  I lacked the mercy to recognize the Face of my Lord.  In truth, I denied knowing Him -out of fear and smallness of heart.

I was afraid of being seen with her, of people thinking she was associated with me.  I was too small to find my Lord in her sad face.  I was repulsed and ran from Him.

          Forgive me, Lord.  I am a pitifully poor and small soul.  Holy Spirit, enlarge my heart to embrace the Outcast.  Jesus, remake my heart of stone into one like onto You.  Father, may I never again reject one of y0ur own.