The merciful gaze of Jesus changes our lives: Pope Francis
Vatican City, 21 September 2013: The gaze of Jesus changes our life, remarked Pope
Francis in his homily at Mass on Saturday morning, at Casa Santa Marta residence in
the Vatican. As the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Matthew, apostle and evangelist,
the day’s gospel focused on his conversion. And hence Pope’s reflection on the gaze
of Jesus and the resulting change. Jesus looks into the eyes of Matthew, a tax
collector and a public sinner whose life was cantered on money which was his idol.
But the look of Jesus changed him, converted him, and he got up and followed Jesus,
said the Pope. The look of Jesus never humiliates you, rather it invites you to get
up and move forward, and it makes you feel that He loves you. And this gives him the
courage to follow him, explained the Pontiff.
The gaze of Jesus was not something
magical, said the Pope, adding Jesus was not a specialist in hypnosis." But he gazed
at everyone, and they felt his gaze. His look changed Peter, who first denied him,
but after meeting Jesus’ gaze wept bitterly. Then there is the ultimate look of Jesus
on the Cross – looking at his mother and at the disciple. With that look, he told
us that his mother was ours.
When the gaze of Jesus fell on the sinners and
publicans, it was like a breath on the embers. They felt that there was fire in the
belly, and Jesus made them rise and restored their dignity. The gaze of Jesus always
makes us worthy, and gives us dignity.
"All of us in life have felt this look,
and not once, but so many times! Maybe in the person of a priest who taught us the
doctrine or absolved our sins. Jesus waits for us to look permanently. And that last
look of Jesus on our lives will be forever, will be eternal. Source: VR Sedoc