Gaze upon Christ, consider Christ, contemplate Christ, imitate Christ. – St Clare
To imitate relates to the word “image” – to become the image upon who we gaze. This past week, we have done a lot of gazing upon Christ. There are many images of Christ to gaze upon- Jesus holding the little children, Jesus healing the sick, Jesus lying in a manger, Jesus resurrected from the dead, Jesus coming again. We become the image upon which we gaze. If we gaze on these images of Christ, we become like Christ.
For St Francis and St Clare, the image of Christ on the cross became the central image to gaze upon and imitate. In the cross hey saw humility, poverty and charity. For them, this meant to not cling to anything including goods, titles, honors or position. It meant to be a servant to all.
We have joined St Francis and St Clare in gazing upon Christ. This morning, we visited several new churches in Venice before we departed for Florence. Most churches have a large picture or sculpture of the crucifixion of Christ in the front center. However in one church, at front center over the altar was a large painting of the resurrection of Christ. At every worship, mass or prayer, this is the image you gazed upon.
In another church, a large crucifix greeted us as soon as we entered. You could not walk up the center aisle without walking around it. Soon after we entered, a businessman on his way to work came in, stood at the crucifix for meditation and prayer for about five minutes. What a way to begin your day of work – meditating on the image of Christ crucified.
It is a bright sunny day, much warmer than yesterday. We are now on a train, on our way to Florence. My thoughts are drawn to everyone back home, family, church family and friends. May God bless each of you today with health, peace, and joy. My thoughts and prayers are drawn to our friends and workers in Africa. May God give you strength and wisdom as you continue to meet the challenges you face. And our thoughts and prayers are drawn to family and friends in Ecuador. In less than two weeks, we will be in Ecuador. May God be with you in all of your activities!
We arrived in Florence, walked to our hotel, and then visited the following churches - San Lorenzo, Santa Maria Novella, Santa Maria Del Fiore, Santo Spirito, and Santa Trinita. In each one, we gazed upon various images of Christ. The more we gaze upon Christ, the more we see of Christ. We are finding all the art and sculpture a powerful tool in helping our minds and hearts gaze upon Christ.
We concluded our day by walking to the river in Florence and sitting on the bridge watching the sun set. Thank you God for simple things like sunsets to enjoy with one another!
To imitate relates to the word “image” – to become the image upon who we gaze. This past week, we have done a lot of gazing upon Christ. There are many images of Christ to gaze upon- Jesus holding the little children, Jesus healing the sick, Jesus lying in a manger, Jesus resurrected from the dead, Jesus coming again. We become the image upon which we gaze. If we gaze on these images of Christ, we become like Christ.
For St Francis and St Clare, the image of Christ on the cross became the central image to gaze upon and imitate. In the cross hey saw humility, poverty and charity. For them, this meant to not cling to anything including goods, titles, honors or position. It meant to be a servant to all.
We have joined St Francis and St Clare in gazing upon Christ. This morning, we visited several new churches in Venice before we departed for Florence. Most churches have a large picture or sculpture of the crucifixion of Christ in the front center. However in one church, at front center over the altar was a large painting of the resurrection of Christ. At every worship, mass or prayer, this is the image you gazed upon.
In another church, a large crucifix greeted us as soon as we entered. You could not walk up the center aisle without walking around it. Soon after we entered, a businessman on his way to work came in, stood at the crucifix for meditation and prayer for about five minutes. What a way to begin your day of work – meditating on the image of Christ crucified.
It is a bright sunny day, much warmer than yesterday. We are now on a train, on our way to Florence. My thoughts are drawn to everyone back home, family, church family and friends. May God bless each of you today with health, peace, and joy. My thoughts and prayers are drawn to our friends and workers in Africa. May God give you strength and wisdom as you continue to meet the challenges you face. And our thoughts and prayers are drawn to family and friends in Ecuador. In less than two weeks, we will be in Ecuador. May God be with you in all of your activities!
We arrived in Florence, walked to our hotel, and then visited the following churches - San Lorenzo, Santa Maria Novella, Santa Maria Del Fiore, Santo Spirito, and Santa Trinita. In each one, we gazed upon various images of Christ. The more we gaze upon Christ, the more we see of Christ. We are finding all the art and sculpture a powerful tool in helping our minds and hearts gaze upon Christ.
We concluded our day by walking to the river in Florence and sitting on the bridge watching the sun set. Thank you God for simple things like sunsets to enjoy with one another!
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