That didn’t exactly thrill me way back when.  What teen wants to look like their parent?  Now it doesn’t seem like such an insult, but rather a compliment, since she aged well when it came to looks.  Mom lived with me those last years.  She would sit in her chair across the room and say, “You look just like your father.”  Okay, I guess that stands to reason since we do look and act like our parents; except it’s also scary to think the older I get the more I look like a man?  Oh well.  None of us gets younger by the day.

      Amy Grant sings a song entitled “She Has Her Father’s Eyes”.  Amy was speaking to the kindness she saw in the eyes of a daughter.  God is our Father.  Do people see God in our eyes? 

      Jesus is God’s Son and our brother.  We profess that Jesus is God in human form.  God became human to walk among us so that we might know God’s love, forgiveness and compassion in a way we can identify with.  We can play with ideas of what Jesus looked like.  He was a healthy Jewish male.  We know for certain he was a Jew.  We assume healthy because of all the walking they did and the fact that his ministry happened between the ages of thirty and thirty-three, older than the average man of his era.  He often frequented meals, but was probably not fat.  His hair and eyes would probably have been brown.  But what is more fascinating is that we all should look like God and like Jesus! 

     If you’ll recall from the sermon on Jan. 22 the point was made that we are “the body of Christ” and as such we should reflect Christ in our varied parts.  My father* was a gentle man, patient and loving.  While my looks came from my birth father, my patience and tolerant nature came from watching my adoptive father.  Mom was quiet and creative.  She sewed, knitted, decorated cakes, was a leader and friend to all.  Both my parents lived what they understood was a Christ like life.  I suppose some of their personalities have rubbed off on me too but it not for me to say.

     It can be disconcerting to be identified with people who live productive, honorable lives.  It isn’t always easy to measure up.   On the positive side it can also give us reason to want to emulate them all the more.  Just think, no matter where you go people will know who you belong to; not only to your parents, but to God.

     Our Lenten journey will begin Feb. 22 this year.  As we follow Christ to the cross, the grave and his resurrection may we take time to think about the image we project to the world as Christians, as God’s offspring, as Christ’s brothers and sisters.  We belong to the family of God through adoption.  We are not God’s biological offspring, but we still should bear a striking resemblance to Jesus.