in the gaze

May 4, 2015

The image that I had prepared for last Sunday’s homily on the vine & branches gospel is the Vine & Branches gold resin windows from Our Lady of Victories Church. The architect, Charles Thomas, wound the vine symbolising Christ through the fourteen windows that stand behind the congregation. From the sanctuary during Mass it is as if the vine surrounds the worshippers, binding us together, and we, the worshipping community, are the branches.

But how easily we cut ourselves off from the vine. We all do this, at least for moments, and every day. But as Jesus reminds us so powerfully, cut off from him, (the vine), we (the branches) can do nothing.

And then on Saturday evening after leaving the 5pm Hanmer Mass and driving to the Culverden for the 7pm I noticed this view from the side of the road. I wasn’t in a hurry and had time to pull over and savour the scene. The moon has no light of it’s own, but because it is in the gaze of the sun it lives. The Waiau river also has no light of its own, and on this May evening at 6.15 it is out of the gaze of the sun. But because the moon is receiving the light of the sun, the moon is able to be a reflector of the sun’s light to the river and the hills…

Let’s make sure that stay in the gaze of the Jesus, that we might reflect his light to everyone we meet.

IMG_4063

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Posts

Tikkun Olam

Tikkun Olam

If you are ready for a broader faith perspective you might appreciate this offering – something a little different

seeking & calling

seeking & calling

In every encounter, local and afar, with people of every age and at every stage of life, the struggles and joys of people are remarkably similar.

Assumption

Assumption

Humans too often make the fatal mistake of separating body and soul, yet our deep desire is for unity of body and soul.

ahead of grace ?

ahead of grace ?

Both readings are personal favourites and every time I hear them and ponder them these texts speak to me in new and powerful ways.

Mary MacKillop

Mary MacKillop

Too often we settle for an existence of lurching from one satisfaction to the next.