"We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us." -- 2 Corinthians 5:20 (RSV)
I was at a prayer meeting recently where I received a small card with a copy of Rembrandt's
Return of the Prodigal Son. I have seen this painting many times before, but this time I was particularly struck by the gentleness and tenderness of the father in the way he gazed at and embraced his son. What went through my mind was the opening of a poem by St. Teresa of Jesus:
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world ...
The eagerness with which the father ran to meet his prodigal son and the compassion and mercy with which he gazed on and embraced him is the eagerness and compassion with which the Lord wants me to approach all those I encounter, especially those who are struggling and yet seeking Him.
