by Deacon James Baker

Do you know someone who seems to be able to visit anyone?  I have come to know only very few people who can visit with anyone. They seem to always be upbeat about any situation.  They seem to have something encouraging to say and can find the good in every person. 

It seems or feels like in this present day and age everyone is running on our preconception of each other.  What is it that determines our preconception of each other?  We ask ourselves, where is this person from? What race are they, what country, what political party, what State are they from?  All these things in my internal checklist have to be satisfied for me to feel ok with you, for me to be able to acknowledge or help you.  I do these things thinking I’m protecting myself, yet they don’t protect me, they separate me from you. This has me thinking that I need to see Christ in people.  We as people need to see Christ in each other!  How do I see Christ in others? I see Christ in others by the good they are doing in their lives, or by their sufferings.  When I see Jesus in others I am fearing the Lord in the right way – by acknowledging his presence here on earth.  When we acknowledge his presence in others, he becomes closer to us in our prayer life. Jesus is not some far off King! He is present within us.

By making Jesus present with you in every moment, this is a very good way to pray.  You should not think about how God is going to punish you for any wrong you may have done – this only brings fear, but rather turn to him for a way out of the darkness of guilt and remorse.  Jesus says, “I have come to set the captives free.” Luke 4:18   

We have to be aware of what can corrupt our soul, what can separate us from each other in a negative way.  Matthew 10:16 states: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves.  Therefore, be as prudent as serpents and simple as doves.” Being prudent as serpents is not letting yourself become someone’s doormat.  The wise person knows when they are being taken advantage of and is knowledgeable when one’s actions may cause harm to another.

Being simple as a dove is a person who is not flamboyant or boisterous.  Remember the Dove is a symbol of peace therefore, being simple as a dove is being a peaceful person.  A dove also represents the Holy Spirit.  A peaceful person is led by the Holy Spirit.

It is okay to have a secret inventory to discern one’s actions of others.  Our actions have to be of love and respect for each other.  We are to treat others the same way I want to be treated.  John 13:34-35 states: “I give you a new commandment: love one another just as I have loved you, so also must you love one another. By this commandment we shall all recognize that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”