October 14, 2024

We all connect with God in different ways.  Some find the Lord in the beauty of his creation, some through contemplative prayer, bible study, and faith sharing groups, and  some by serving others.  I find my strongest connection to God is through music. Frequently, when I hear or read sacred scripture, or listen to the Homily/Sermon, a hymn or song will pop into my head.  When Pastor Andy did his study on St. Francis of Assisi, and we would say the prayer of St. Francis together at the end, I had the hymn of the same title on replay in my head the rest of the evening.  

As I became acclimated to my role at Advent and learned of all the ministries the community supports, the song that popped into my head was “We are the Hands of Christ” by composer Joel Raney.  Click HERE for a recording.  The text set to this haunting melody is a teaching attributed to St. Teresa of Avila, a mystic and Doctor of the Church.    

“Christ has no body now on earth but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which He looks

           Compassion on this world.

Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good,

Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,

Yours are the eyes, you are His body.

Christ has no body now but yours.” 

When I ponder these words and look at the photo above, I see Advent Life Ministries. One example is the inspiring group who just completed the Camino.  They literally used their feet to be Christ in this world.  

Another Theresa, St. Therese of Lisieux is known for her philosophy that we must do small things with great love.  As we continue to move forward as a Christian community, what can we learn from these two women?  How can we be Christ’s hands and feet in a world that so needs Him?  What little acts of kindness, service, and justice can we do each day with great love?
 
Cecilia Carroll
Executive Director
Advent Square

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