Matthew 25:39
"And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’"
Jesus took one look at Simon and immediately saw the future Peter (John 1:42). Jesus saw Nathaniel under the fig tree before Nathaniel saw the One who created the fig tree (John 1:48). Jesus saw the widow who had just lost her only son. “He saw her and felt compassion for her.” Then, Jesus gave the dead man back to his mother (Luke 7:13-15). Jesus said to Simon, the Pharisee, while turning towards and locking eyes with the woman who had just washed his feet, “Do you see this woman?” You saw a sinner. I see a forgiven saint (Luke 7:44).
The intimate gaze of Jesus resulted in intimate provision and revelation through Jesus. There wasn’t a barrier with humans that Jesus would not cross in order to be with and provide for weary hearts and needy souls. It started with his eyes. A deep seeing rendered an even deeper being.
Jesus’ sight provides insight for us. Our eyes need salvation. Our un-seeing is revealing. Look for the eyes. Get close enough to see eyes. That’s where the deep seeing begins.
Did you see the eyes of your friend trying to gather the words to tell you that you hurt her? Do you see the eyes of your children talking to you as you fixate your eyes on your phone? Do you see the eyes of those carrying sustained grief, sadness, anxiety? Did you see the eyes of traumatized Central American children at the border? Did you see the terrified eyes of Asian-American survivors of racialized hate crimes? Haven't masks re-trained us to see eyes?
When did we see you...and come to You?
It starts with the eyes.
Seeking begins with seeing.
Seeing precedes coming towards another.
The face of God comes into clearest focus in the face of Jesus.
The face of Jesus comes into clearest focus in the face of us.
You will find Jesus in the seeking of the eyes, for to see another is to see the face of God.
Art: Randy Working | "I Know the Plans I Have for You" | oil, acrylic, and collage on canvas | 2015
Practice: Borderlands
Watch Rafael Lozano-Hemmer in "Borderlands" (click here) by Art21.
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