There’s a moment in the Gospels when Jesus responds to a crowd demanding clarity. They say, “Just tell us who you are.” And Jesus responds, in essence, “I already have. I’ve shown you.” He points not to a theological argument, but to his actions — healing the sick, feeding the hungry, welcoming the outcast, challenging the powerful. He says: Look at all I have been doing. That tells you who I am.

These words of Jesus remind me of something Maya Angelou once said: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” It’s a line I keep returning to, especially now.

We’re living in a time of deep division — socially, politically, morally. It seems that every day, we’re confronted with difficult questions: Who’s telling the truth? Who really cares about justice? Who is actually loving their neighbor, and who is using their power to harm?

The answers aren’t always found in soundbites or headlines. But if we pay attention — if we really watch how people live, speak, and treat others — we’ll see who they are. Jesus invites us to look at people’s actions. And in 2025, that’s a spiritual discipline we need to practice more than ever.

If someone continually shows up with compassion, if they treat the vulnerable with dignity, if they listen more than they speak, if they speak up when it costs them something — believe them. They’re showing you who they are. It may not make headlines, but it is the work of goodness, and it deserves to be trusted.

And if someone consistently belittles others, spreads lies, demeans people based on race, gender, sexuality, or nationality — believe them, too. No matter how polished their speech or clever their platform, they’re showing you what they value. They’re showing you their heart.

One of the hardest truths in this divided time is this: someone’s kindness to you doesn’t cancel out their cruelty to others. If a person treats a certain group with hatred or disdain, that behavior tells you more than their private charm ever could. Silence in the face of injustice is a form of complicity. And injustice toward one group is a threat to us all.

As a pastor, I believe in grace and transformation. I believe people can change. But grace doesn’t require naivety. Jesus calls us to love — not to pretend. We’re not called to ignore the truth about people’s character because it makes us uncomfortable. We’re called to build communities rooted in truth, accountability, and love.

And that includes taking a long, honest look at ourselves. What are we showing the world through our own words, habits, and choices? Are we living in a way that reflects love, justice, humility, and mercy? Are we courageous enough to confront the truth — both in others and in ourselves?

This is where the words of St. Francis of Assisi come into sharp focus: “Be careful how you live; you may be the only Bible some people ever read.”

Whether we realize it or not, people are watching. Not to judge or condemn — but to understand. To see what faith looks like when it’s lived out. Our actions may be someone else’s first glimpse of Christ’s love, or their first reason to believe that justice, humility, and kindness still matter.

So, as we continue to navigate a culture filled with division and misinformation, maybe the most faithful thing we can do is this: pay attention. Watch how people live. Believe them when they show you who they are. And ask yourself — what am I showing others through my own actions?

Because in the end, we are all telling the world who we are — not just through our words, but through the way we live. Let’s believe what we see. Let’s show up with love. Let’s show up with courage. Let’s show up like Jesus. And may our lives tell a story worth reading.

Athol Congregational Church, UCC, is a local community of faith that is “small enough to know you, large enough to serve.” We worship and offer Sunday school at 10 a.m. on Sundays, and also offer Facebook livestream services under “Athol Congregational Videos.” We truly welcome everyone, no matter where you are on your faith journey, even if you haven’t begun one yet. Our pastors are available for conversation on our Athol Congregational Church Facebook page and we would love to connect. We offer long-distance Reiki through our certified practitioners, are willing to pray with you whatever your need, and want to know you, whoever you are. We are located at 1225 Chestnut St. in Athol and can be reached at 978-249-6202.