No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world… (Prayer of Teresa of Avila)
Look at the famous image from the Sistine Chapel. God is reaching down to touch Adam, not only to bring him to life but to give him ‘dominion over everything…’ We are made in the image of God and as stewards of and for God are very truly the hands of God in the world.
Jesus
tells Peter and the disciples that they are to be ‘prudent managers’ because “blessed is
that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you,
he will put that one in charge of all his possessions…That slave who knew what
his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will
receive a severe beating. But one who did not know and did what deserved a
beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been
given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted,
even more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:43-48)
To
be stewards, managers, the hands of God in the world is an awesome and
frightening responsibility. Luckily we are not alone. Just as He promised His
disciples, Jesus promises us, “But the Advocate, the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and
remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I
give to you. I do not give to you as the world
gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” (John 14:25-26)In our baptism we are given “new life of grace” and are welcomed “into the household of God.” As members of that household, the Body of Christ, we are to “Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share…in his eternal priesthood.” (Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, Baptism service)
We are empowered to be the ambassadors for Christ in the world-to be Christians. Remember that the word Christian means ‘Follower of Christ’ from the Greek Christianos. Indeed the word Christ or Christos means Anointed One. Therefore, we are “Followers of the Anointed One” and as such we are the image of Christ in the world.
Because we are a part of the total Body of Christ, we can be the “hands with which he walks to do good.” Our hands can be instruments of God’s love in many ways. When we hold a friend’s hand during a difficult time, when we hand out a sack lunch to a homeless person, when we knit a scarf or prayer shawl to be given away, we are the hands of Christ. If our hands are purchasing a can of tuna for a food pantry or folded in prayer or writing a note to comfort a hurting heart, we are the hands of Christ.
Verse 2 of the John Michael Talbot song “Holy Ground” says, “These are holy hands, He's given us holy hands, He works through these hands, And so these hands are holy.”
Imagine yourself in that image in the Sistine Chapel. God is reaching out to you to empower you to be the hands of Christ in the world. Will you take God’s hand?
