What if we had a photo of God to look at every day?
In fact we do have a “picture” of God; we have Jesus. We don’t have a picture of what Jesus looked like, though thousands of artists have tried to depict him. But we certainly know what Jesus said and did. We know what was
important to him and how he treated people.
As we practice acts of devotion and worship we encounter
women and men who have seen God face to face. Moses
recognized God in the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-12). Paul saw God on the Damascus road (Acts 9:1-19). Peter, James and John recognized God in their encounter with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8). We witness the face of God in Christian community when we gather as members of the body of Christ.
Through the practice of spiritual disciplines we learn to see God’s face in acts of kindness and justice. Mother
Teresa wrote of seeing the face of Jesus in the
dying and the poor. Jesus tells us that when we do
acts of kindness to people who are hungry, thirsty,
ill-clad, strangers, sick, and in prison we will
meet him face to face (Matthew 25:31-46).
It is not a matter of searching for a “photo” of God.
It is a matter of recognizing the face of God in our midst.
What a blessing Sprouts children will experience when they
learn to identify and gaze into the face of God every day. I encourage Sprouts leaders to teach them using scripture, prayer, art/icons, liturgy and nature to guide the children into seeing God’s presence in the world, in their peers, and in themselves.
If we seek the face of God everyday we will grow in holiness of heart and life; and we will be happier.
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