"Remember, I am with you always to the end of the age" (Mt 28:20)

Day 14: Love Never Fails

Transfiguration by Sieger Köder

F
or our last day of reflection on the last line of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Love never fails,” I would like to recommend that we spend this day of love in prayer through 'Visio Divina' or what I call as 'seeing with heart's eyes'. Using the Ignatian style, the grace I recommend to beg for is the amazing grace of love. It means: "All my strength and heart and mind are straining themselves to affirm you, O God (and myself only in you), and those whom you have placed beside me as my neighbors" (Hans Urs Von Balthasar). The artwork is the Transfiguration by Sieger Köder. I am quoting the beautiful guide entitled "LET THE GAZE TRANSFIGURE YOU" written by Fr Philip Chircop SJ (A-MUSEDto accompany each of us in contemplation. Let us be transfigured by Jesus who is love himself.
"The vision of the Transfiguration is a vision of the soul, the heart, the mind. Look at the painting of the Transfiguration by Sieger Köder. Take your time to gaze into it, become familiar with it and let the colours and the characters enter your consciousness. We are drawn to Christ and, in meditation, we feel Christ drawing near to us.

Feel yourself in the Presence of Christ, Moses and Elijah. Notice how the three figures in Köder’s painting look at each other in such a way as to form a circle, a union: Christ looks at Elijah, Elijah looks at Moses and Moses looks at Jesus. In Köder’s work, the vision is seen in prayer by the disciples (Peter, James and John); their eyes remain closed. In the darkness of prayer, in their innermost selves, they see the Divine. God dwells within each one of us.

In the Orthodox tradition, it is not so much Christ who is transfigured, as the disciples. The Light of God shines continually upon and through Christ, but only fleetingly and seldom do the disciples see Jesus as He truly is. The Transfiguration is a moment of what Gregory of Nyssa calls epektasis or unending progress (see my note below). Entering into the Holy and opening one’s self to the Holy already within is an unending journey. In the story of the Transfiguration, in meditative prayer, the disciples took a leap forward. As we gaze into the painting, allow the silence of our gazing to become our prayer."
Nota Bene: St Gregory of Nyssa's usage of epektasis alludes to St Paul's image found in Philippians 3:13 ἐπεκτεινόμενος τοῖς ἔμπροσθεν (epekteinomenos tois emprosthen) meaning straining or stretching in front of time (Strong's Greek 3588)–the image of 'unending love'.



Fr JM Manzano SJ

Comments

  1. Gazing lovingly back to a Beloved who love endlessly...Thanks for sharing in this day of love... : ) Now it is time to be under His gaze... : ) May we have a graceful and love filled day with the Lord! : )

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    1. I ended with prayer because to truly stay in the love of the Beloved is, like you said, be under His gaze, which only happens in prayer... that is why prayer is a most loving act. GBU!

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    2. Appreciated much the invitation to reflect the Transfiguration… Makes this day more meaningful... Thanks Fr. JM! Nice new look! : )

      Now, sharing the fruits of this day...

      His gaze of love truly transforms
      To love and be loved
      To Him and all
      Grateful for in prayer
      Mutual love with the Beloved
      Attaining love’ perfection
      Making each other
      A gift for the other

      One who truly loves the Beloved
      Passionate loving felt
      Not only in words and actions
      But in the Presence
      Inspiring others
      Drawing them
      Closer to the Beloved

      This is my beloved son
      Listen to Him
      Transfiguration
      A promise to be
      With the Beloved forever
      In prayer a foretaste
      Of eternity with Him
      This is the longing of a heart
      Made to love the Beloved

      Thanks be to our Triune God!


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    3. Thank you so much for sharing these grace-filled fruits: Starting with the gaze of the one who loved us first, created as a gift to give and be given, not only of doing but being, and most of all being-loved endlessly as a beloved, His gaze became incarnate through His Beloved-with-us. Amen.

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  2. your posts po are so beautiful, enriching, inspiring! Thank you Fr. J. Manzano. God bless!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words of appreciation and most especially for the prayers and blessings that God continue to give me inspiration to write about Him. GBU!

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  3. Kakaiba ngayong taon... Nada to basa... Namiss ko ah! ...Take it as an invitation to be silent and be present in the presence of our loving Beloved Triune God...Hope and Pray this day is filled with His love... GBU!

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