The Look!

As I listened to the reading of the Passion of Christ on this Palm Sunday the phrase that struck me is: “Jesus looked at Peter.” Their eyes met and Peter began to weep bitterly. 

Peter had a moment ago disowned Jesus three times despite his earlier protestations of loyalty which had also implied an "I'm better than them; I'm more loyal than them" self-concept.

I have been wondering what kind of look it was that had such an immediate impact on Peter, that brought about such remorse. I invite you, dear reader, to pause a while and ask yourself what kind of look that was. What kind of responses arise within you as you do that?  …..

For me, it would have been a look of much understanding, compassion and love: “I knew you would betray me because you are weak. But I know you love me and you are really sorry that you failed. I don’t hold anything against you. I love you the same”

 …..

 Looks! There are so many kinds of looks – looks that convey so many meanings and evoke so many emotions.

Again, I invite you, dear reader, to recall the kind of looks you have offered and what your eyes conveyed through those looks. Were they looks that you are proud of? Or looks that you are ashamed of or embarrassed about? What emotions do you think those looks evoked in those at whom they were directed?

And what about the looks others have directed toward you? What did they convey to you? And how were you affected by them? What kind of emotions they evoked in you? And how did you see yourself seen by the other through those looks? What happened when your eyes met those of the other?

Recalling the many looks we have offered and encountered and staying with the answers to these above questions that arise within us spontaneously can tell us a good deal about ourselves.

And we could turn these reflections into prayer as we take a few minutes to talk to Jesus about looks -- his, ours and those directed at us by others.

Those readers who are not disciples of Jesus can hold a conversation with the God they believe in. And those who do not believe in God can hold a conversation with their own deep self. Or, simply sit quietly for a while in the awareness of whatever this reflection on “Looks” has evoked in them.

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“The work of the eyes is done. Go now and do the heart-work on the images imprisoned within you.” Rainer Maria-Rilke, in Turning Point.