Who do you see?

A simple question: Who do you see?

Pretend that this

is a mirror you are looking into (or a webcam showing yourself).
What and who do you see?

If we are to be the reflection of Christ, to be his incarnation in our world,
Do you see Jesus?
Or someone else?

When people look at you do they notice someone with compassion and humility? Someone who goes out of their way to connect with the ordinary, those in need?
Do they hear a voice filled with love and affirmation? But with the boldness and insight to have scathing things to say to the arrogance and elitism sometimes found in religious institutions?
Because that’s exactly what Jesus was like.
He saved his tough words for the scribes and Pharisees, those who put stumbling blocks in the way of people seeing the merciful character of God. All the rest of the time his words were gentle, kind, helping, affirming.

When confronted with ‘sin’ he said; “Neither do I condemn you.”

When confronted with religious folk who prided themselves on their observance of the law, he said; “You whitewashed graves.” Or, as The Message puts it: “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds.” Matthew 23: 26, 27
So when you look in the mirror, who do you see? Jesus, or a Pharisee?