On Saturday morning, we celebrated with forty-one children as they made their First Communion here at St. Francis. As you can imagine, they were all dressed up. Their hair was combed, and their shoes were shined. The girls were beautiful, and the boys were handsome.
One parent told me the story of how they had taken their son, Kevin, shopping for a new outfit to wear for his First Communion. Even though Kevin was only seven years old, he had his own idea of what it meant to be “dressed up.” His idea of being dressed up was wearing a clean T–shirt and jeans without any holes.
But since it was his First Communion, he knew he would have to dress like his dad, in a suit and tie, for the first time. He tried on several suits at the department store and finally found one that fit.
He came out of the dressing room and stood in front of the full-length mirror when he said, in a loud voice, “God’s not going to recognize me in a suit and tie.”
His father reassured Kevin that God would always recognize him, no matter how he was dressed.
It is important to remember that God will always recognize us. The problem is that we do not always recognize God. As Mother Theresa stated, “God comes in many disguises; some of them distressing disguises.”
Today’s gospel account tells of two disciples who did not recognize Jesus, even though He walked and talked with them as they traveled on a dusty road from Jerusalem to the town of Emmaus. The disciples told Jesus about the Crucifixion, and Jesus interpreted the Scriptures for them.
When did they finally recognize that the stranger was the glorified Christ? That’s right: in the breaking of the bread.
They recognized Jesus only after they welcomed Him and invited Him to stay and share a meal with them. This is an incredible line from the gospel that we cannot miss.
Do you think it is easier to recognize Christ in a stranger, a neighbor or another person? Or is it easier to recognize Christ in the breaking of the bread? Both can be difficult.
What a missed opportunity it would have been for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus if they had not welcomed the stranger and shared a meal with Him.
I wonder how many times in my own life I have missed opportunities to recognize Christ and welcome Him? When have I not recognized the disguised Christ?
Here at St. Francis, we strive to be a vibrant community that welcomes everyone, not only the people we know but every stranger and visitor.
It is the privilege of each of us, whether we live here full-time or seasonally, to reach out with a smile, a nod, an introduction or a simple “Good morning.” This can include an invitation to coffee or to join one of our Bible studies or ministry groups. Get to know the names of those you have seen in church, whether you have seen them once or hundreds of times.
Cheers was one of the most successful sitcoms from 1982 through 1993. It was set in a Boston tavern where beer and laughs flowed freely. Cheers was honored with dozens of Emmys and Golden Globes. The show’s theme song “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” became its tagline. The lyrics encouraged people to gather in a place where everyone knows your name.
Church is not a bar, and there is no beer here (at least not at Mass), but we have prayer, and we do have joy. We want to know your name, and we are truly glad that you are here.
Mother Teresa said that the greatest disease is the feeling of being unwanted. Through the gift of welcoming, each of us can help remedy that feeling.
God will always recognize and always love us. He will never forget us. He will never abandon us. We don’t want to be strangers to God. Let us make a greater effort to be as welcoming to others as Christ is to us.
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