Whose hands will you touch?
Relationships are an outward sign of how we relate to God. If we in fact fully believe in God, not as some distant entity sitting on a cloud or some historical figure but as the creator of heaven, earth and every human life then we must believe that God resides in each and every soul we encounter. If we could internalize this one belief then all human beings would not only be respected but treated with dignity, kindness and unfaltering love. One of our varied problems with being human is that we are judgmental, biased and self absorbed. We do not see the light that shines within the stranger, enemy, homeless or the poor. Instead we see danger, poverty, ignorance and little to no empathy.
43“You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Matthew 5:43-47
Even the tax collectors love those who love them, it is the stranger, the enemy, and the one we do not understand that we should form a relationship with to relate more intimately with God. Our children and spouses for the most part love us back. It is those who do not that God wants us to love more. How is this even possible? Does God really know what He is asking of us is nearly impossible we are only human made of flesh and blood. But we must remember God has bigger plans for us. He wants for us to love like He does. He sent his only son so that we may learn how to love the sinner not just that guy we are judging but ourselves as well.
