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| Ojos de deos |
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit,
joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.
Who can forget these words once she has heard them? We can ignore them, and abandon our faith altogether. Or we can embrace them as a forceful, sobering influence. They shape our behavior as surely as the hands of a skilled potter molds useless clay into practical tableware.
Adam and Eve fled from the penetrating gaze of God after they had eaten the forbidden fruit. Their nakedness was suddenly shameful to them, unbearably so.
But God's gaze is frank and admiring, delightful and ennobling to those who are willing to be seen. Even our sinfulness can be washed away by the cleansing flood of his searching eye, or cut away like a cancerous tumor by the penetrating scalpel of his word.
Mexicans have a lovely custom of decorating their walls with ojos de deos. This "eye of God" is usually a beautiful, simple form, friendly and reassuring. It represent the loving gaze of God who blesses the home, its residents and its guests.
The Eye of God reminds us to whom we belong, of who has claimed us as his own peculiar people, who protects us under the shadow of his wing.
Many North American Catholics hang crucifixes on their walls and build corner shrines for the Virgin Mary. These too remind us of God's loving, reassuring presence.
We must render an account to God, who has rendered an account for all his works in the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. He has paid the price of our redemption. How can any reasonable person refuse his love?
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.