Jesus comes to us in many images

May 11, 2003 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter

	Bishop Robert Morneau
	Questions for reflection: 1.What is your favorite image of Jesus? 2.Who are the "poor people" in your life? 3.How do you deal with rejection?

What is your image of Jesus? A good shepherd? A rejected stone? God's Son?

The Carmelite poet Jessica Powers once described Jesus as "The Master Beggar." A startling image here. And yet we know that Jesus emptied himself and took on the form of a slave (indeed, of a beggar). He lived in the land of poverty and had total reliance on the Father. Perhaps the image of "beggar" was not foreign to the consciousness of Jesus. Perhaps we too in moments of clarity come to the realization that all is gift and that we too stand as beggars before the face of God.

Back to the scriptures. Jesus is presented as the good shepherd. A shepherd has no identity without sheep, without the serious responsibility of caring for the flock. And a "good" shepherd is one whose dedication to the sheep reaches to the point of sacrificing one's very life for the sheep. Jesus is our good shepherd and has a haunting desire that all be part of one flock. This unity transpires when we hear and respond to his voice.

Jesus is the rejected stone. Builders make choices as to which stones will be used or not used in their structures. Each of us, in constructing our lives, make selections as to what influences or relationships are given sway in our souls. When Jesus came and explained that discipleship involved suffering and death, many walked away. He and his message were rejected, cast aside. Not so for Peter who saw Jesus as the cornerstone, as the source of our salvation. To reject the Lord is to live in darkness and exile. To embrace the Lord means that we too will be able to participate in the Lord's ministry of healing and giving life.

Jesus is the Son of God. John's letter challenges us to recognize who Jesus really is, God's Son, and, thereby, to come into the light. When we accept Jesus as our Savior we too become, by adoption, sons and daughters of God. Through the gift of faith we become like Jesus and participate in the very life of the Trinity. Gratitude should flood our souls as we are caught up into the mystery of grace, i.e., friendship with God.

Jesus -- the good shepherd, the rejected stone, the Son of God. But what about Jesus, the Master Beggar?

A constant refrain in our Catholic tradition is that Jesus often comes to us through us. We proclaim and sing: "Whatsoever you do to the least of our brothers [sisters], that we do unto you." We are challenged to see Christ in the face of the poor, in the face of the beggar. The "Master Beggar" comes disguised. Our response to those in need is our response to our Lord.

Fr. Lambert Scanlan, one of our diocesan priests who died several years ago, helped out in my hometown village of Bear Creek. In one of his homilies he talked about the "knights of the road," those who road the night trains and slept in the open air. His message was clear: these too are members of the body of Christ and deserve our attention and help.

Jesus continues to come to us in word and sacrament, in and through the human community. He comes as the compassionate good shepherd, as the one rejected and crucified, as God's beloved Son, as the Master Beggar, as our friend, redeemer, and brother. We must each "have our welcome waiting" (Jane Tyson Clement).

(Bp. Morneau is the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay.)