Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"For where two or three meet in My Name,
I shall be there with them" (Matthew 18:20)

Reflection:.

The pastor of an inner-city Church tells
about an unexpected, but beautifully
enriching experience of Christ's Presence
in his life. He says ... When I learned that
I was to be the new pastor of this Church
located in a so-called "War Zone"
neighborhood, I regarded it as "mission"
territory. My purpose was to bring Christ
there. But, to my shame, I soon discovered,
quite unexpectedly, that Christ already was
there, in the honesty and generosity and
love of the people I had come to change.
Through them, the experience of the Christ
Presence came to me as never before.
Through them, Christ had changed me.
Through them, I realized, as never before,
that Jesus Christ makes His Presence
known to us in the most unexpected places.

Who could have expected that the
promised Messiah of God would first present
Himself to the world in a lowly stable?

It was summer. The days were long and the
heat of the desert wastes blew in on
Caesarea Philippi. Jesus turned aside from
the crowds and went away to the mountains
with a few close friends. The tall pines
swayed in the cool breeze. A clear stream
flowed at their feet, splashing against the
boulders in its path. The Apostle Peter
marveled at the beauty of the everlasting
hills as he said, "Surely God is in this place.
" But Jesus said, "If you really want to see
God working, come with Me." To Peter's
dismay they were going down from the
mountain, back to the heat, the dust, and
the sweaty crowds at Caesarea. As they
came down from the mountain, a man was
waiting with an afflicted son. Jesus touched
the boy and made him well again. And
Peter said to himself, "It's hard to get used
to the idea that we're closest to God when
we meet him in the needs of our sisters
and brothers."

HAVE YOU MET HIM THERE?

(from Sunday Sermons Online)