A prayer reflection
A person’s gaze is like a map of his soul, a window to what is in his heart. There are many types of gazes: Tender gazes which warmly welcome you, harsh ones that repulse or reject you. Pure gazes that only give love, others that steal something. Glances that fill us with peace and those that make us fearful.
In your prayer, have you ever looked into the eyes of Jesus and let Him look at you? In such a prayer, what would your eyes see? How would He look at you? Which of His gazes have you experienced in your life? To gaze at Jesus in prayer is to rest the eyes of your heart on His eyes and thus come to know His heart. It is like contemplating a landscape, the landscape of his love: each day is different, yet always full of color and beauty.
What eyes can we see in prayer?
• Like the woman caught in adultery, we see eyes that lower themselves to write our name in the dust, raising us up and restoring us with a gaze.
• At the tomb of Lazarus, we see eyes that mourn the loss of His friend and tears which etch rivers of friendship in our hearts. We hear his words, “I have loved you and I have cried for you. I love you and I cry for you and with you.”
• Lifted high on the cross, we see eyes that are a reflection of heaven: they cry out with love to the good thief: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
• At the Matthew’s tax collector’s booth, we see Jesus’ eyes full of dreams and plans for this man. This gaze penetrates Matthew’s heart and resurrects a life which was dead because of sin. We see a gaze that, together with a few words, attracts the human will just like a magnet and creates an unconditional disciple.
• Zacchaeus looks into those eyes that know his name and history, his fears and dreams, his anxieties and hopes – a gaze that reaches up to heaven and creates a friendship that will last to eternity.
• Little children look up into those smiling eyes that embrace, that are simply windows to their own hearts: those eyes filled with simplicity and joy say: “Let the children come to me,” because in their simplicity the kingdom of heaven is found.
• Those who meet His gaze see acceptance and forgiveness seventy times seven. His eyes renew their hope and pierce their hearts to find the goodness that is hidden and which make it visible once again to them.
• We see the eyes of a gardener who sows, waters, fertilizes and then waits expectantly for the crop to be ready for the harvest.
• Lost sheep look up to find eyes that have sought them out. Throughout the night, those eyes keep watch because love never sleeps. The shepherd cares for and guides his flock with eyes of love and compassion.
• The Father in Heaven sees the eyes of His Son offering His body and blood. These eyes of sacrifice cry and weep because not all will eat and drink.
• We see eyes that remember everyone and are etched into other people’s memories. His gaze is united with ours in the Eucharist: mine contemplate His heart as He looks into my heart.
• Mary contemplated those eyes as they gazed back at hers. Looking into Jesus’ eyes, we can see Mary’s reflection, and to look into the eyes of Mary is to encounter those of Jesus.
Oh man and woman, those eyes await you! Come, look into that window that is always open, the window to His heart. In the Tabernacle, His eyes are waiting to meet yours.
