We are the Smile of God

Matthew 5:13-16

This past summer while I was traveling in Germany I attended a Mass at St. Klara in Nuremberg. The priest was one of the most hospitable people I have ever met. In his homily he said this, "We are the hands and feet of Jesus. We are the smile of God to one another." What a beautiful statement.

Sometimes it is hard to the smile of God to one another. Think about it - how many people did you encounter today who smiled at you? Just yesterday as I waited at a red light I looked at the car next to me. I often pray for that person. When I looked, the man was smiling. Just sitting there and smiling. It made me smile. How often we rush through life not really seeing the people or the beauty next to us. there we were, two strangers, not even looking at one another, but he made a difference in my day. For the next two hours I began to smile at everyone I met. You should have seen the reaction of folks. They often looked at me to see if they knew me, then most of them smiled back. Some even said hello.

We have the power to be the love of God in our world. We can continue to add to the anger, the vengencance, the gossip in our lives or we can be the smile of God to one another. Try it and see the miracles that begin to happen!

Reflection

Did you smile at someone today? How did it make you feel? Can you see yourself as the conduit for God's love to others? Write about a time when this happened.

Challenge

What are the things that hold you back from loving others? How can you begin to be a channel for the love of God to others? Today, smile and pray for one other person. Tell someone that God loves them.

Prayer

Smiling God, forgive me when I am grumpy and take it out on others. Stretch my face to smile more often and be a reflection of your great love and mercy. Lead me to people who need a friend this day and open my life to be ready to love them. In the name of Jesus who

July 18, 2012 - Daryl and I had a remarkable trip to Wales - first on the Island of Bardsey with my classmates from Drew and then another week of touring Wales.  We were astounded at how friendly everyone was to us and also how they embraced us as Americans.  This was never more evident than when we were at the Bondant Museum.
Early that morning we had planned to travel to Tenby and wanted to get a head start.  Unfortunately we had a flat tire.  Complete strangers stopped and pumped it up with this neat little gadget in their car so we could make it to a garage.  The gentleman there were so funny and in a half hour we were back on the road.  Of course by now it was nearing lunch time.  We had cheese and wine for our lunch and had hoped to stop along the seacoast for brief refreshment.  What we really needed was some bread!  As we were driving along, I saw a sign for a Welsh museum of food and it said they had a bakery.

          "hey, let's stop there!" As we entered the driveway a guard stopped us and asked if we had an invitation.  "No," I said, "do we need one?  it's a museum!"  "No," she said, "but Prince Charles is coming today."  so we parked and then some policeman became friendly with us and we had fun with their hats! Okay so on with the story.  Then we met a reporter who discovered we were Americans. he took us under his wing and whispered to us the itinerary and told us where to stand.  As we waited there, we became good friends with Sigfrid and Gwynfor (yes I spelled it correctly, just don't ask me to say it!)

They decided that we should definitely shake hands with the Prince and Camilla. So when they came through they introduced us as "their friends from America" and we had nice conversations! Imagine that!  This was just incredible.  Then they closed the bakery because Prince Charles was touring it so Sigfrid gave us her homemade bread!  Joys abound!