Look unto Me, and be ye
saved. (Isa 45:22)
When ballerinas pirouette they
focus their eyes on a single point and then turn. Runners train their eyes on
the finishing line to motivate that last burst of energy that brings them past
it. The act of focus is often achieved by looking at a single point. This is
not easy, and comes with training.
We all care about a lot of things.
Sometimes the thing we care most about is the one peripheral to our vision, and
not what we supposedly have our sights set on. Sometimes it’s church duties,
rather than serving Jesus; sometimes it’s others’ perception of our work,
rather than the work itself; other times it’s the gift and not God. In the few
and toilsome years of our life, there may be times we may not see what is
ahead. During these times we should fix our eyes on Jesus.
The disciple whom Jesus loved
looked. He steadfastly followed Him to the foot of the cross and carefully
documents that Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, prayed before the cross, and
protected them during the time of His capture. When trialed and scourged, Jesus
bore it silently. His pain and agony was total on all levels—spiritual, mental
and physical. He was hurt—crown, hands and feet. He bled painfully on the
cross, endured extreme thirst, held on till the last breath and gave up His
spirit for our sakes. When forsaken, He was heartbroken, crying out, “My God,
my God, why have you forsaken Me?” The beloved disciple saw with quivering
heart, and believed (Jn 19:35).
Whenever things get too much to
bear, it should be the frame of Him who hung on the cross we should be looking
at. Not the blood and the gore but the picture-portrait that tells us our Lord
went to the deepest hell to rescue us—a painting inscribed with the words, “I
love you.” Nothing matters more than that.
Questions
for Reflection
1.
What do you think are the things in your peripheral vision that keep you
from focusing on God?
2.
How do you think looking at Jesus can help you overcome the problem you
are facing today?