by Nancy Linenkugel
Contributor
“. . . she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.” (Jn 20: 14)
At a busy intersection there is an amputee in a wheelchair holding a mangled sign made from a cardboard box with the crayoned message, “Homeless veteran. Need anything you can spare. God Bless You.”
Next to me on the bus is an unkempt individual who is making a nuisance of himself through his constant patter of nonsensical comments.
“. . . she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.”
The bus passes a downtown Catholic church where there are three persons nestled in the massive protective entrances, and each person is clutching several tattered sacks and raggy blankets.
Around a bustling farmer’s market there are several street musicians located strategically between the booths; each needy-looking musician is performing on a well-worn instrument whose cases serve as the money-offering collector.
“. . . she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.”
I get into my car at 9:30 p.m. after an orchestra rehearsal and walk by a questionable-looking man seated on the curb controlling a leashed dog.
At the county fair I stop to talk with one seller of carnival merchandise; she has pumpkin teeth, a cigarette coiling smoke around her head and filthy clothing.
“. . . she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.”
Oh, I get it – it’s Hallowe’en. We’re all in costume.
[Sr. Nancy Linenkugel is a Sylvania Franciscan sister and chair of the department of Health Services Administration at Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio.]