So there I was, having dinner with this guy who looks a whole lot like Curly from the Three Stooges. Bob Perron is a Catholic Edu- tainer who calls himself a "Stooge 4 Christ", and he has appeared in our Diocese a few times. Here's how Bob's Web site explains it:

"What is a Stooge 4 Christ? According to the dictionary, a stooge is a person of unquestionable obedience. We are all called to be Stooges 4 Christ."

I had never met Bob, but most of the people I was with had, and they invited him to join us for dinner. So when his other dinner plans fell through, Bob joined us at a nice place called Gumbo's. It had been a long day in Denver at the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry, and we all needed to unwind.

It was a fun and interesting dinner, to say the least. We talked and laughed, talked and ate, ranted and brainstormed and laughed some more. Yet out of all the things we discussed, one little anecdote really sticks in my mind...

Bob was on his way to his hotel, getting ready for the conference. On the sidewalk out front, he had to practically step over four homeless men in order get to the front door.

This incident, which might bother an average person because of the inconvenience, bothered Bob, too. But it didn't bother him for the same reason. It bothered him because it would have bothered Jesus.

Here Bob was, getting ready to talk about Jesus at this incredible Youth Ministry conference, and he had walked right past Christ out there on the sidewalk. The image just wouldn't go away.

So Bob went back outside, rounded up those homeless folks, and took them to dinner at McDonald's. He didn't just give them some money or buy them some food and send them on their way, though. Bob actually sat down and ate with them.

He said it was one of the most interesting things he's ever done!

It is far too easy to simply look the other way when we pass by the homeless or less fortunate, especially during the holiday season. We are so busy and so stressed that we just whisk on by without a second glance.

But Jesus is not just a character in some old story. He is here with us today. And if we truly believe that Jesus is the reason for the season, then we need to stop. We need to give these people a second glance. We need to share our time and our treasure with them. And we need to do that FIRST.

My dear friends, these people are cold, hungry, thirsty and homeless. And THEY are Jesus.

"And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'" (Matthew 25:40 NAB)

God Bless You,
~Brandon

Sound off! Tell me what you think! bjubar@parishwebmaster.com

You can learn more about Bob Perron, Stooge 4 Christ, online at:
http://www.stooge4christ.com