I dared to Look in the Mirror and What did I See?

During this most Holy Week in Christendom, like many faithful believers, I have decided to do all I can to walk with a more intentional purpose with our Lord Jesus Christ through his passion. I hope to journey through this week and emerge with a stronger vision and embodiment of Christ. I want to look deep below the surface of the passion narrative to see just how and (probably more importantly) why God relates to us.

I ask myself: When we look into the face of the tortured, flogged and mocked Jesus, what do we see? When we hear the hostile crowds yell to Pilate, "Crucify Him!" do we hear our voice mingled amongst the mob?

I truly enjoy the little book, "Love Set Free" by Brother Martin L. Smith, SSJE. In the Gospel of John during Jesus' trial we hear Pilate say, "Here is the man!" Brother Smith stresses that this one tiny sentence is a profound revelation to our inner selves. The humanity of Jesus is important and vital to our salvation and hope. The longer and more deeply we gaze at Jesus the better we are able to internalize and witness "the dignity of his [Jesus'] stillness and suffering compassion and companionship of God." By entering into the darkness of Christ's passion and suffering, we realize the profound truth; "God is not a distant God looking down at this scene[Jesus' trial and execution] or a remote God peering over the horizon." By looking into the suffering eyes of Christ Jesus we get a tiny glimpse of the incredible nature of God. For it is "only by drawing near enough to us to be caught up in the cycle of human self-destructive violence does God get near enough to end the cycle with healing, reconciliation and reunion."

God strives to get as close to us as we will allow him. This is how our lives are transformed and the cycle of self-destructive behavior is broken. God is an engaging God who genuinely wants to be in communion with us. Through Christ Jesus we are drawn nearer to God; we are made one with him - just as he and the Father are one. There is a genuine dignity in this precious moment; for it is here, in this intimate moment that our inner most pain and suffering are not only revealed, but absorbed in Christ's suffering and pain. Gods meets us where we are in life and thus opens our hearts to shine through the darkness, and live as wholesome examples in Christ.

In conclusion, when we look into the tortured, blood stained and bruised face of Jesus what do we see? I see a compassionate God who loves and honors the dignity in all people, even when those same people lash out and turn away from him. I see a loving God whose passion for humanity far exceeds our often selfish and rebellious behavior. I see a God who allows us to throw him under the bus, only to reach out in reconciling forgiveness and invite us to sit beside him on the bus.

Will we accept God's invitation to walk through this most holy week with Jesus? Will we dare to look into the face of Christ and risk seeing a reflection of our broken selves? Do we dare acknowledge those places where we harbor our most intense pain and shame? Will we open our hearts to the compassion of Christ and let him heal those festering sores; sores that are infected with resentment, hate and self-centeredness?

This Holy Week dare to look into the mirror eyes of Christ. Embrace the truth that stares back at us; for it is not only a reflection of our own hurt, sorrow and pain, but a reflection of Christ's redeeming love as well.