“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” – Jesus

About a year ago, we had a guest speaker come to a staff chapel where I work.  The speaker is actively involved in ministry and outreach in Africa. He told us a few stories, one of which particularly resonated with me.  He explained how he had been in Tanzania with a group of nuns that were a part of Mother Teresa’s “Sisters of Charity.”  He had brought some men from his church, along with his teenage daughter and a few other ministry partners.  They were there to observe the situation in Tanzania, as well as to serve in the orphanages.  

While there, one of the men noticed a group of Muslim men standing off in the distance at the location they were at, and asked one of the Sisters what they were doing there. She replied, “Oooohhh, they just had a big prayer festival/celebration last week! We got the ceremonial hats, learned the dances and found out how to make the dishes they eat during the festival.” Even more puzzled than when he asked who they were, the man just stood there scratching his head.

She apparently noticed that the wheels were turning and said to him, “It is an honor and privilege to serve the Jesus that I see in my Muslim brothers and sisters.” Immediately, he said, his daughter jumped in the conversation with an oh-so-typical high school question. She asked, “so, since all you sisters live in one house, do you guys ever just fight?” The nun said, without hesitation and with the same smile as before, “It is an honor and privilege to serve the Jesus I see in my sisters.”

See, she sees Jesus in everyone. Her life is fully devoted to serving the least of these, as doing so is serving Jesus. Who are the least to us? Fill in the blank….do we say It is an honor and privilege to serve the Jesus I see in my _______ (African American, the rich, poor, Hispanic, homosexual, interracial, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic) brothers and sisters? 

Was she saying that she agreed with them believing what they believe? No.  She was saying that each and every person alive on this planet has the thumbprint of God on them.

I’ll be the first to say right now that this has, and is continuing to be blowing me away right now. I do not see Jesus in everyone, and it is not an honor and privilege to me to serve them sometimes. I’m praying for that to change ASAP.