Traditionally in paintings the eyes of Christ are suffering and sad. But Rembrandt didn't do that. His portrait-eyes of Christ are open, thoughtful, alive, connective and reflective of a deep interiority. They are the eyes of one who might be sitting across from us at table, attentive to what we share from our own deeply felt-place.
Through the eyes of Christ, God reveals heaven's looking into our world. Through the eyes of Christ, God looks love into our world. Through the little prayer-refrain I've used here, "Glory to the eyes of Christ' we might gratefully extol God's vision.
I grew up being taught that God sees everything. In translation that meant: "God doesn't miss a trick and will catch you out in every secret sin and flaw." But when we meet Jesus in the intimacy of the Gospel, we realize that isn't so. Glorify the eyes of Christ with a happy and grateful heart.
Glory to the eyes of Christ,
returning the gaze of his nursing mother.
Glory to the eyes of Christ,
greeting the shepherds of Bethlehem.
Glory to the eyes of Christ,
accepting the first-seeing of Bartimaeus.
Glory to the eyes of Christ,
embracing the non-Jews;
the ones considered other.
Glory to the eyes of Christ,
interfacing with Lazarus at the opening of the tomb.
Glory to the eyes of Christ,
recognizing the hunger of the hillside congregation.
Glory to the eyes of Christ,
welcoming the children and their anxious mothers.
Glory to the eyes of Christ,
all-seeing, discerning stony hearts
and Peter's repentance.
Glory to the eyes of Christ,
witnessing the heavens opening over Jordan's waters.
Glory to the eyes of Christ,
delighting the face of the woman bent over.
Glory to the eyes of Christ,
loving the young man who had great wealth.
Glory to the eyes of Christ,
weeping over Jerusalem's apathy.
Glory to the eyes of Christ,
looking mercy to thieves, left and right.
Glory to the eyes of Christ,
carrying the Easter announcement, Peace be with you.
which in kindness watch over me,
little and confounded.
