Christ the King

One of the things that I kept hearing when people would tell me about the job I was about to start working with the homeless was something like this: “It will be a tough, tough job, but you will see the face of Christ every day.” I’ve found out they weren’t lying.

A week or so ago, I was sitting in the day room with Anniece. The crowd was starting to build, and we were laughing about the fact that everyone in the room looked like they were ready to gang up on us and kill us on the spot. Except for when our growing group of hardened street people was giving us the death stare, there was a lot of noise and chaos. People were talking loudly, the big screen TV was blaring at about 150 decibels. In the midst of all this, one person raised his voice. It was a gentleman who we had been dealing with for a few weeks who is very mentally ill and was refusing help. When he wasn’t obsessed over getting a bus ticket to Georgia, or Alabama, or wherever his home was at any given moment, he was railing at us about something, or talking about going to Montana to hunt owls for their claws. He is one that usually shows up at just the wrong moment and is a good test for that oft forgotten fruit of the Spirit, patience. His voice called out over the noise of the day room like he was paging someone—and I guess he was. He just looked up and said, “Jesus? Is Jesus Christ here?

After the two of us who were working looked at each other and started laughing, I think we said something like, “I don’t see him anywhere!” The volunteer who was with us from a local university said, “Well, I sure hope he is!”

Though my initial response was to laugh at the insanity of the situation, which there are many opportunities to do, this man’s paging of Jesus served as a moment of clarity for me. Jesus Christ is present in even the most hidden, ugly places of the world. Christ is there in the midst of the chaos and fear of life, bringing hope and peace to situations that the world would call beyond repair.

Christ was there when we heard an unusual noise outside when we were closing for lunch one day. Our participants were outside singing Happy Birthday. One of our women had gotten a cake so one of the men could have a birthday party.

Christ is there on the long, well worn path to the Guest House, where those who are heavily intoxicated are taken to get a warm place to sober up.

Christ is there with the sick, as the hospital drops them at our door after often major medical procedures that would require many weeks of recuperation for those of us fortunate enough to be housed.

Christ is there when forgiveness is sought. When a heartfelt apology is given to me to make amends for a wrong first impression, or words that were said in anger, the reconciling work of God is being done.

Christ is there when someone needs a pair of socks from the store, and on occasion 30 points somehow stretch into 50.

Christ will be there this Friday when the homeless choose Christmas gifts to send to the children who they miss so deeply.

Christ is there, suffering along with a woman whose eyes are blackened and whose body is bruised.

Christ is there when a young man’s restlessness is stilled by the creation of something beautiful in the art room.

Christ is there every night when people wait outside the gates wondering if there will be room for them in the inn. Will they get a coveted spot in our Room in the Inn program, and get to spend the night in a warm church, surrounded by friendly faces and generous meals, or will they face another night staying at the crowded mission, or under a bridge somewhere?

Jesus Christ is here with all of us. The lectionary text for Christ the King Sunday sometimes takes us to that passage in Matthew that places Christ with those who are the least of these. It is only by placing ourselves along side the suffering of this world that we are able to truly see the face of Christ each day.

* * * * * * * *

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11