“Artists of the world, may your many different paths all lead to that infinite Ocean of beauty where wonder becomes awe, exhilaration, unspeakable joy. May you be guided and inspired by the mystery of the Risen Christ, whom the Church in these days contemplates with joy.”
Letter to Artists, 16
Luke 24:35-48
The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread.
While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.”
And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.
He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
Captivated by Beauty | Clarity
Reflection by Erin Day
After we receive God through beauty, we are naturally captivated. In this captivated state, we can see clearly the mystical reality of life. When we behold beauty, God lifts the veil in front of us, revealing His mystical reality and unending love. This is the point in which everything else seems to fade away and only the clarity of Christ’s abounding love remains, resounds, and penetrates our hearts. We behold and are stirred to wonder at the infinite mystery of God, our loving Father, and are held in His embrace. Here, our eyes are fixed on Him, and we desire to abide in the warmth of this tender, light-filled place forever.
We often aren’t able to be captivated by God because we don’t see Him in the ordinary parts of our lives. Our vision is clouded by doubting His love for us. This week, we want to allow ourselves to be overtaken by the sheer depth of God’s love for us. We’ll ask Him to wash away any confusion or doubt we may have about whether He exists and if He loves us. When we give to God any reservations that hold us back from fully entering into His embrace, we can be drawn out of ourselves and into the depth of His personal love for us. Instead of wondering if He loves us, we’ll see clearly how He loves us.
Oh God, we give you the confused and dark corners of our hearts where we doubt your love, and pray that you enlighten them, captivating us with Your immense love.
Unveiling Light
In today’s Gospel, we get to see how the Risen Christ captivates with His love. As the disciples were journeying together, they felt confused. Doubt and darkness clouded their vision. Even when Christ stood in their midst, they did not recognize Him. He showed Himself, but they still did not see. The veil of despair was covering the eyes of their souls.
It was only when they touched Him that they were filled with “incredulous joy and were amazed.” This is the moment when the beauty of Christ Himself–really present in their midst–moved their souls from confusion to captivation. They were overcome with wonder and awe at the sight of their Lord and Savior who had truly risen from the dead!
Imagine you were one of the disciples on the road. You reach out your shaking hand to touch His wounded hand, and…
...suddenly an ocean of light is flooding your heart. The light permeates every part of your soul, rushing here and there, even into the darkest corners. Nothing can be hidden. Everything is being illuminated. The light is so bright that it washes away your fears and anxieties. You are cleansed. The clouds of confusion are gone. There are no longer any doubts of His love for you. Your entire being is caught up in the present moment—enraptured, transfixed. You are welling up with unspeakable joy, and an immense clarity. You see now. You see Him. At last, here is my God! Let yourself be in this place with the Lord. Know of His love for you.
Jesus meets us on our journey and uses the ordinary parts of our lives to reveal Himself. For the disciples, He used His scarred hands and a piece of fish. For us, He might use the laughter of a close friend, the pitter-patter of toddler feet, or the bloom of a grocery store flower to show us that He is real, and that He is here. The Risen Christ can bring the ordinary things of our lives into the extraordinary mystery of creation. Give yourself permission to see God in the ordinary and be captivated by the extraordinary.
Daily Living:
Reminisce in His goodness. Remembering moments when we felt God’s presence can help us believe in His presence here and now. Have you ever felt completely captivated by God and His beauty? What did you experience internally?
Be with beauty. Creation, relationships, and the sacramental life of the Church are a few ways God reveals His beauty. Can I make time this week to be in nature, talk with a friend, or go to Adoration?
Relish the ordinary. God often uses our daily activities and the things (and people) right in front of us to reveal Himself and how He loves. What are my daily routines? Who do I encounter often? How can I put my heart in a position to be captivated by the ordinary parts of my life?
Know of His love. At times, it may be difficult to fathom the depth of God’s personal love for us. Have you ever doubted how much God loves you? Have you ever doubted God’s existence? What helped you see His love for you more clearly?
UP NEXT: Week 3: Daily Flow
