“May our glances profoundly penetrate each other” The Unity Prayer (The Flame of Love)
Take a moment where you are right now and look to the empty chair across the room. Imagine Jesus sitting in that chair.
Don’t say anything to Him. Just look at Him sitting there.
What is Jesus doing? What does HE say to you?
I have done this exercise and have been brought to tears many times. Let me talk if one of those times.
I sat looking at the empty chair for a long while until I ‘saw’ Jesus come and sit down. We sat in silence for a time, just looking at each other. I have to say, many who know me would be surprise that I sat in silence for so long. The silence wasn’t from self-control as much as it was from awe and humility.
Running through my mind were thoughts about how sinful I am and how unworthy I am to be in His presence. Part of me wanted to hide behind my chair or run. But, His eyes penetrated my heart and held me to my seat. “Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?” Psalm 139:7
I begin to speak, the only words that come to mind are “my Lord and my God.” But, as I open my mouth, Jesus raises His finger to His lips and share His head stopping my words. We continue sitting in silence. I feel the desire to lower my eyes in humility and shame, but, I can’t break His gaze. There is a warmth in His eyes that has captured my heart.
After what seemed an eternity, Jesus breaks the silence. His deep penetrating eyes never break from mine. He says, “I Myself bore your sins in My body on the cross, so that, free from sins, you can live for righteousness; by My wounds you have been healed.” His words break as a waves against the dry sand of my soul.
“My son,” Jesus continues, “I came that you should see the Father, know Me and believe. Let your soul praise My Mercy, let your fear subside and trust in My Love. Do not fear to approach me nor fall in fear at my feet. You are prized to my Sacred Heart.”
Jesus knew all of my sins. At that moment, I could see many of them lashed across His back. But, looking into His clear, deep eyes, I also knew that all my combined sins, even if a million times greater, didn’t matter to Him at that moment or ever.
Jesus smiled at me as this realization dawned in my heart.
The tears flow down my face as the warmth of that look washes into my soul. And, I know I am both loved and free.
“every soul will praise My goodness. I desire trust from My creatures. Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the unmeasurable depths of My mercy.”Divine Mercy in my soul # 1059
Take a moment where you are right now and look to the empty chair across the room. Imagine Jesus sitting in that chair.
I have done this with CCD class. The kids sat and waited for Jesus to sit beside them. A parent approached me a day later and asked what was done in class? She said he son couldn’t stop talking about how great the class was and how he met Jesus
This exercise in faith is moving and inspiring.
This is a beautiful exercise in our Christian faith! If we can learn to see Jesus in EVERY one we encounter in our lives, we will be kinder, more giving, more understanding, and truly be real Brothers and Sisters to each other! Needless to say, this is the way Jesus meant us to be!