We had a guest speaker in church this morning. Mark Fields is involved in missions in the Vineyard movement. In that position, he travels all around the globe. I just have to share what to me was the most moving and meaningful of the stories he shared, about the hands of Christ.
On a visit to South Africa, he visited the Catholic cathedral, Regina Mundi (Queen of the World), a church that provided (or tried to provide) sanctuary to many during the height of the uprisings against apartheid. He said there are numerous bullet holes still visible from that time from shots fired into the church.
In the lobby, there is an almost life-sized statue of Jesus. Mark Fields noticed Jesus was missing his hands, and he asked why. He was told that a bullet fired into the church broke off one of the hands. It was decided that, rather than try to repair the broken hand, they would cut off the other one as a reminder to those who worshiped there that they, the followers of Christ, are the hands of Jesus in this world.
I was moved to tears by the image.
My hands, your hands if you are a disciple of Christ, are the only physical hands of Jesus available here on earth until the day He returns. Christ has given us a mission, to go out into the world and share the good news. To share the peace of God with those in need.
I’m going to remember this statue and the meaning behind it.
~ robin
That’s a very moving story. We hosted missionaries to the Yanomami people in the primitive northern part of Brazil last night. They shared about the animism, the witch doctors, the darkness that still exists in that area. They are definitely the hands of Jesus to these people. It makes me wonder, what am I doing that reaches out with Jesus’ hands.
Yes, Sunni. I think we must constantly be asking ourselves those kinds of questions. It is so easy to slide into our comfort zones.
That’s a good message to remember.