Some may remember the astonishing image that won the National Catholic Reporter’s Jesus 2000 contest. Janet McKenzie’s “Jesus of the People” (Google it!) was modeled on an African American woman. McKenzie said in an interview, “I used a female model as my primary inspiration in portraying a dark-skinned Christ, in order to include the feminine spirit.”

She added, “All my work comes from my heart. … Each mother protectively holding her child, each pair of closed eyes and each woman looking out of the canvas into the eyes of the viewer reflects my desire for change, for a world where mothers don't fear losing their children on a daily basis and where a father of color does not have to remind his son to be careful every single day of his life.”

The Body of Christ, and the Precious Blood that flows within it, are heard in the wonderful variety of the living Body of Christ all over the world. As Alfred Burt put it in his 1951 Christmas carol, “Some Children See Him lily white; … Some bronzed and brown; … Some almond-eyed.”*

The children in each different place
Will see the baby Jesus’ face
Like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace,
And filled with holy light.

Perhaps children are better than adults at seeing the living Body and Blood of Christ in all its stunning diversity.