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Monday, December 16, 2024

How do I see the face of Christ in others?


Mother Teresa would pray, every day, in front of what  -- for all the world  -- looks like a small piece of bread. But she steadfastly believed that it was, in fact, the body of Christ. And she trained herself, day after day, to look upon it as the body of Christ and to treat it with the reverence due to the body of Christ. 

Then, when she left her time of prayer, she spent her days with what  -- for all the world  -- looked like dirty and shabby beggars and outcasts. But the same eyes of faith that could see the body of Christ in what looked like a piece of bread, and treat it with reverence because of that, could see the face of Christ in the poorest of the poor and treat them with reverence because of that. 

Maybe, then, there is a training element to Eucharistic devotion. It teaches me to see the world through the eyes of faith, and to act on that faith -- to believe that I am meeting Christ, and to act on that belief, even when my eyes seem to tell me otherwise. The people that I meet every day, on the street and in the hallways, do not conform to the image of Christ that I carry in my imagination. But, then, neither does the Eucharist. If I reflect on the fact that the Eucharist doesn't look like what I imagine the body and blood of Christ looking like, maybe the categories of my imagination will open up. Maybe I will learn to see the face of Christ more clearly through the eyes of faith and develop a Christian imagination. 

Most Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski, Archbishop of St. Louis, Passport to the Eucharist, p. 17

Answer

Seeing the face of Christ in others involves embracing a perspective of love, compassion, and service, which is deeply rooted in Christian teachings. Here are some ways to cultivate this vision:

  1. Practice Empathy: Try to understand others' feelings and perspectives. When you empathize, you're looking beyond the surface to see the shared humanity that connects you with others, much like Christ would.
  2. Serve Others: Engage in acts of service without expecting anything in return. Whether it's through volunteering, helping someone in need, or simply being there for someone, these acts reflect Christ's life of service to others.
  3. Forgiveness: Forgive others as Christ forgave. Holding onto grudges can blind you to someone's inherent dignity and worth. By forgiving, you acknowledge the possibility of redemption and change in every person.
  4. Look Beyond Flaws: Everyone has faults, but focusing on these can obscure the image of Christ within them. Instead, try to see the potential for goodness and the divine spark that resides in everyone.
  5. Prayer and Reflection: Spend time in prayer asking for the grace to see others as Christ does. Reflect on scriptures where Jesus interacts with various people, showing love and compassion to all, regardless of their status or behavior.
  6. Community and Fellowship: Engage with your community or church group. Being part of a faith community can help reinforce your practice of seeing Christ in others, as it often involves communal acts of love and support.
  7. Mindfulness and Presence: Be present in your interactions. Sometimes, just giving someone your full attention can make them feel valued and seen, mirroring Christ's attentiveness to individuals he met.
  8. See the Suffering: Christ is often associated with those who suffer or are marginalized. By being aware of and responding to others' pain, you are, in essence, seeing Christ in the least of these, as described in Matthew 25:40.


By integrating these practices into your daily life, you can transform how you interact with others, seeing them not just as fellow humans but as reflections of the divine. This approach not only changes how you perceive others but also how you live your own life, fostering a deeper connection with your faith and community.

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How do I see the face of Christ in others?

Mother Teresa would pray, every day, in front of what  -- for all the world  -- looks like a small piece of bread. But she steadfastly belie...