Three Glances of Christ Meditation

By: Rilee Farney

Each day, we begin with a short meditation, which sets
the tone for the day. Last night we asked you to examine
who you are. Today were asking you to seriously look at
the person of Jesus and think about who he really is to you.
Many of us have different perceptions of who Jesus is.
Perhaps you feel that Jesus is someone you have been
forced to love by your parents and society. Perhaps you
feel that Jesus is just some random guy that you have been
learning about in your religion classes for the past 12 years
or however many years youve been in a religion class.
Perhaps some of you rarely think of who Jesus really is.
Perhaps you think of Jesus as someone who is out of reach,
to supreme to care about you, or even as someone you
would like to believe in, but its to hard because you arent

sure if you want too. Maybe some of you dont even

believe in Jesus.
Sometimes it can be hard. We cant see Jesus, so how
do we know if hes really there. Before I went on my Kairos
last year, Jesus seemed nonexistent from my life. He
seemed like an old friend, someone who used to be
important when I was younger but somehow had lost touch
and had been forgotten about. It wasnt until this day on
the retreat that I realized God will always be there for me
and no matter where I am or what Im doing, he has my
back.
Have you ever been in a room full of people and
suddenly your eyes met the eyes of another person, and it
was a little bit awkward. You didnt mean to stare at them
but your mind was a million miles away. Well, Jesus looked
into peoples eyes every day and some of them were
distant and didnt realize who he really was. Imagine how

they felt. What if he were to look into your eyes? I believe

Jesus will look into your eyes today. Today is the turning
point of the retreat and in someway Jesus will look at you.
But how will you respond.

InthestoryoftheRichYoungMan,amaninthecrowdfollowing
Jesusaskedhimhowhecouldbecertainofattainingheaven.Jesustells
themantoabidebythelaws,donotmurder,donotstealandthengoand
sellallthathehasangivethemoneytothepoor. This rich young man was
a good man and had been living a good life. He was searching sincerely to
do Gods will and Jesus saw the goodness in him. Jesus invited him to
remove the one obstacle in his way of a strong relationship with god his
excessive attachment to material things. However, the rich young man
failed because of cowardness and unwillingness to let go of personal
comfort. His situation was sad because he had so much promise. His
decision to cling to his material possessions rather than entrust his life to
Jesus made him an unhappy man. Now ask yourself, Are you an unhappy

person, caught between your desire to live for Christ and your attachment
to comforts? Do you lack the courage to trust God for every detail of your
life?
We allow evils of various kinds to build barriers between God and us.
Judas Iscariots barriers were dishonesty, greed, and pride. Judas fooled
the other eleven disciples. Jesus knew what Judas was going to do, yet he
continued to search for him and invite him to join the rest of the disciples.
Jesus even washed Judas feet, inviting him to be cleansed of sin and to be
one with the family again. He tried to warn Judas, but Judas hardened his
heart. He allowed greed, dishonesty, and pride to intervene and blind him
to the truth. We may fool those around us into thinking we are devoted to
the lord, while refusing to turn from those evils. Ask yourself: do you
allow evils of various kinds to build barriers between you and God like
Judas? Do we ever think about the fact that the evils in our lives will
eventually separate us from the joy of life God intends for us?
Peterwasaverygenuinehumanbeing,whowasdedicatedtoJesus.
However,Peterhadoneflaw:hetrustedhisowneffortstoliveforChrist.

Hewasoverlyselfconfidentcausinghimtomakerashdecisionsand
harshcommentstotheotherdisciples.Peter eventually disowned Jesus
however, he was humble enough to repent. All it took was one glance from
Jesus to cause him to weep for his sin. In spite of his rash self-confidence,
he continued to love Jesus. Peteropenedhiseyesand learned that Jesus
understands human failings and that he forgives always. Peter discovered
that as long as he continued to keep himself unreservedly in love to Jesus,
he would have the strength to overcome all obstacles. Peter had become
the leader because he loved the Lord. Now ask yourself: will you be afraid
and walk away? Are you imperfect, but willing, because of your love for
Jesus?
These are the three glances of Christ three cases in which Jesus looked
someone in the eye, but saw into their souls. What he sees, he knows he
understands he loves, even when that love is rejected. Now imagine him
looking into your eyes? What would he see? How would you respond if he
looked into your eyes today?

Today on the retreat, pay attention to the God moments. Perhaps it will be
during one of the talks given, through a silent walk alone, through a time
with a friend, or perhaps through the Eucharist. Each day Jesus speaks to
us through his prayer but do we really listen to what hes telling us. Let me
break it down for you:
Our father, who art in heaven. Understand that God should always be
communicated with as a loving father.
Hallowed be thy name. Respect our God as one who is as special as he
is in our human history.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. He
reminds us that we are why he came to earth, to restore the earth to a
loving place, to be as it was intended from the start.
Next in the prayer, we pray for ourselves. Give us this day our daily
bread. We pray for just what we need, not for excess, not for wants, but
just for what we need.

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against

us. Now for me, this is the toughest part of what Jesus teaches us. How
am I supposed to forgive others who betray me? How am I supposed to
look past their evil and betrayal and start new? However, Jesus looks past
our evils every day, and if he can do that, we should be able to forgive
others just as easily.
And lead us not into temptation. We ask God for intervention in our
lives. Lord when we are tempted to do something we shouldnt, Block it.
If we are eating to excess, or something we shouldnt consume, Lord, have
a friend call. If we are watching something we shouldnt on television,
have a friend invite us out or maybe have our parents show up. Lead us
away from all temptation that may affect our relationship with you.
But deliver us from evil. We should never hesitate to think we are exempt
from evil. Ive heard it said that the greatest success the devil ever
enjoyed, is to have people believe he does not exist. Evil is all around us
and Jesus calls each one of us to repent for what we have done.

If Jesus speaks to you today, harden not your heart and listen to his
message. Again I ask you, how will you respond? Will you be like the rich
young man, who looked more to possessions then to Jesus? Or will you
be like Judas, who looked passed all good and chose evil? Or will you be
like Peter, who admitted his faults, got up, and began again?
Who will you be?