“Christ has no body on earth now but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours; yours are the eyes through which Christ looks with compassion on the world; yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good; yours are the hands with which Christ blesses all the world.” St. Teresa of Avila

The earliest Christians believed that Christ’s second coming would be soon. Well, it has been 2,000 years, which is nowhere close to soon in how we understand and experience time. We do not know when Christ will come unto the world again. In this Gospel, Jesus is saying to his disciples – you will not know when I will return, but you must act justly, mercifully, and lovingly until I do.

In reading and praying about this Gospel, I was reminded of St. Teresa of Avila’s words, shared above. We are Christ’s body – and presence – in the world now. We are charged with continuing Christ’s work of building the Kingdom of God on earth. It can be overwhelming when I think of the big picture, the ultimate goal. But, when I remember so much of this is tied up in how I go about my daily life, I am emboldened to live out this charge.

Do I treat others with respect and generosity? Do I advocate for those who are oppressed? Do I ask someone how they are and take the extra time to really listen, rather than let the question be a passing formality? Do I witness injustice and respond with both prayer and action? Do I walk around offering gratitude for what I experience – the tree’s leaves changing from green to yellows, oranges, and reds; the sound of laughter as neighborhood children play outside on a sunny day; the patience my colleague offers me? Do I respond to the suffering others are experiencing with compassion and accompaniment?

I am Christ’s body on earth. You are Christ’s body on earth. Each person is Christ’s body on earth. Are we treating each other as such?