Tag: Face

Posted on

Sermon Notes – The Face of Christ

“The Face of Christ”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

September 22 – 23, 2018

God created all of mankind in His image, and He loves every single one us including those who are poor, rich, weak, strong; homely, beautiful, Christian and non-Christian. Because we were created in His image, how can we not see the face of Christ in everyone we meet? How can we claim to love God if we do not love those whom He loves?

John 4:20-21

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

21 This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Loving those who love us or who appreciate our work is easy. Loving everyone else can be difficult, since the face of Christ is also there in those who are hateful, violent, greedy, arrogant, and bitter. In Matthew 25:45-46, Christ said to the apostles: “In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me. And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the upright to eternal life.’

The ability to show this kind of love requires a conversion of the heart and a strong faith. Saint Therese of Lisieux had such a conversion of the heart. Every day, she showered love on those she was not fond of and endured suffering without complaint. These daily sacrifices were her gifts to God and inspired many Catholics to lead holy lives by making their own sacrifices for Him.

You may not be thanked for sharing God’s love…you may even be rebuffed, scorned or cursed. You may never see the results of your love, or receive public accolades, but that’s not what is important. By helping others, by showing your love, you are doing His Will. You, in return, will receive much more than you could ever possibly give in the form of inner peace and joy.

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you endeavor to see the face of Christ in everyone you meet? Will you treat people as you would Christ by showering them with love even though you may not be fond of some? Do you need a conversion of the heart and a strengthening of your faith?