1 January 2014 - eye to eye

1 January 2014 - eye to eye

To be blessed means that the face of God shines upon us.

May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.

He teaches us to desire the light of his face long before he takes flesh.  We can imagine the joy of the shepherds as they discover that this is no longer mere metaphor, seeing his face before their eyes.

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.

This is such a powerful experience for them that they can't help but make "known the message that had been told them about this child" which brings amazement to all who hear it.  As they return they can't help but glorify and praise God "for all they had heard and seen."

It would seem reasonable for God to stop there.  He does not stop there.  He goes several steps further.  He ransoms "those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."

Through his whole life Jesus reveals the face of the Father.  The more we walk with him the more we should realize who the Father is.  He asks us as well as Philip, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip?"  He reminds us that since we have seen him we have seen the Father as well.  The life of Jesus is the revelation of the Father's heart.  He unveils God's face for us so that we "with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another" (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18).  While we gaze on him we are transformed!  The agent of this transformation is the Holy Spirit:

As proof that you are sons,
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out, “Abba, Father!”

The LORD really does have a plan no matter how the world seems at times.  Let us gaze upon Jesus so that we can cry out with him, "Abba!"  Let us rejoice in the love he shows us.

May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.