A 2nd Gaze: The almost embarrassingly common recurrence of barren—but favored—women in the Old Testament is a brilliant metaphor for “I can’t do it, but God can—and will!” This is summed up and personified in the Virgin Mary, but it is still the same Jewish symbol. In Mary, and in us, we see our own incapacity to make spiritual things happen by our own devices, by our own intelligence, and with our own bodies; but I can receive, trust, and allow God to do it in me and through me. Many translations of Luke’s “Magnificat” (Luke 1:46-55) use the wonderful phrase “God has regarded me in my lowliness” (1:48). This French-based word regardez means to look at twice, or look at again, or look at deeply. Mary allows herself to be looked at with God’s deeper and more considered gaze. When we do that, God’s eyes always become more compassionate and merciful. And so do ours if we regard anything. - Richard Rohr .... and in Jesus, we can mystically regard God as having come to us in a state of lowliness -- and inviting and allowing a 2nd look from us. Jesus can be our window to God. May those who have eyes to see, see. - Roger Wolsey
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 18:41:18 +0000
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