Reflect
The fablelike image of a king dressed in rags—wandering his kingdom in disguise to see how the people behave and learn what they truly think—is a classic storytelling trope. It is found in the Bible as well. Two examples are the stranger in the fifth chapter of the Book of Tobit, who turns out to be the angel Raphael, and from the Gospel of Luke, with the beautiful story of the resurrected Christ appearing to Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus (24:13–35). This classic image reminds us that we always need to have our eyes open and our hearts ready. We never know when we may be encountering (or even entertaining) angels.
Pray
Jesus,
Healer of the sick, comforter of the afflicted,
feeder of the hungry, welcomer of strangers,
seeing always with eyes of love, you saw your Father’s glory
revealed even in the humblest child and the impoverished widow.
May the glorious radiance of your love open my eyes to see the truth:
your eyes, your face, your presence,
shining forth from the face of everyone I meet.
Act
Make a conscious effort to look for God’s presence today in the face of someone you meet. Listen for God’s love calling to you through their presence, words, and actions. It is no secret, God is there, calling you to come near.
