Have you seen my Son?

Have you seen my son?  I’m hearing all kinds of rumors!  Where’s my boy?  I know he’s all grown up but a mother worries.  My son.  Have you seen him?  He’s pretty ordinary.  Average height, black hair, about 30.  Not particularly handsome, I suppose, but I think he’s the most handsome boy. No one will write stories about his looks, that’s for sure, but he’s still special to me.  Have you seen him?

If you have, please tell me where he is.  You may not remember his looks, but you will remember him.  Always has something surprising to say, and my goodness he can be funny!  I’ll never forget the time he said that it’s harder for a rich man to get into heaven than a camel to go through the eye of a needle!  Oh we laughed as he pretended to shove a big camel through a tiny needle. Or when he told us that when we judge others it’s like we’re complaining of a speck of sawdust in their eye when we have a giant log in our own! 

Have you seen my son?  He’s a storyteller, with great tales of flowers and birds being cared for, of us being lights on a lamp stand, of lost sons and lost sheep.  He tells stories of God’s love for us in a way that makes it feel real!  When Jesus tells a story, it sticks in your head, that’s for sure.

Have you seen my son?  He’s a healer, it’s amazing the people who have found healing after meeting him. I can’t explain it, but the lepers dance, the lame jump for joy, the blind astounded, the deaf tell of good news. 

Have you seen my son?  You’d know if you’ve ever met him.  He connects people together.  Tax collectors gain friends, prostitutes too.  People who are disfigured and ill are turned into family. The homeless are fed and the people with mental illness are made welcome.  There’s always enough wine at weddings and fish catch in the lake when he’s around.  There’s always daily bread in the wilderness to feed the biggest crowd

Have you seen my boy, my loving first-born child?  He’s such a listener.  People tell him their troubles and they figure it out.  Like Zacchaeus who didn’t like his job anymore, or the unhappy rich man who didn’t know why he was unhappy.  Powerful men like Joseph of Aramathea, who had deep philosophical questions he was struggling with, and little children that he loves to listen to and to bless.

Have you seen my son?  He’s so incredibly brave.  I remember him going into a graveyard where a man was chained up to keep him from harming himself.  My son talked to the fellow, calming him down, helping him, healing him.  Other people were scared of him but not my son.  And he helped Mary Magdalene, my young friend, who was struggling with sadness and discouragement and all sorts of confusing thoughts.  Now she has purpose and enthusiasm.  My son even talks to Roman commanders and Samaritans and wanders throughout the countryside.  He doesn’t worry about bandits or soldiers either.  I’ll never forget the time he wandered into an angry crowd of men who were planning to kill a young girl because she got caught with a young man where she shouldn’t be.  Why they let the young man go is something I don’t understand.  But my son went right into the middle of the crowd, asked a few questions and then asked one more.  “Are any of you perfect? “ And that saved her life. 

Have any of you seen him?  He did make enemies.  He couldn’t stand hypocrisy, especially from priests and politicians.  He called Herod a sneaky fox.  He challenged the Pharisees to have authentic faith rather than just a show in public where all could see.  He got angry in the temple at everything being done to line the pockets of money changers who were overcharging poor people.  He stood up to authorities when they were unjust or selfish.

I’m so afraid.  I can’t find him anywhere.  I worry that the Roman soldiers have him, or the temple authorities.  My poor son.  I feel like he’s in trouble and there’s nothing I can do to help him.  He’s always been special, and he’s always been a worry for me.  Goodness like his doesn’t get treated fairly in this harsh world.  He has offended powerful people who don’t like being challenged.  The courts do not care for people who ask troubling questions.  They do not want to be questioned.  They do not want to be fair and truthful and caring.

Have you seen my son?  God, you know and see everything.  You love my son more than I do.  You would not harm a hair on his head.  The people in power are angry at him and think they can stop his message of love and freedom if they can catch him.  I know you sent him to teach us how to love each other and forgive each other.  But how can you protect him from the whole Roman army?  How can you keep him safe from politicians who hate him and priests who feel threatened by him?  God, I can’t protect him and be with him in this time of trial, but you can.  God, your ways are mysterious beyond me but I know you have seen my son.  I know you are with him, and even if he feels abandoned and lost, even if he is walking through the valley of the shadow of death, you are with him.  Your rod and staff will protect him.  Lead him not into temptation, but deliver him from evil, for yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever, Amen.