To be Seen

When Jesus heals a woman in today's Gospel reading (Luke 13:10-17), the first step is that he sees her.  There is something powerful in life when we are seen by another person.  In this case, "to be seen" does not mean "to be noticed" by others, but when somebody else understands what we’ve been through and where we want to go.  The other person sees in us the pain and the possibility of our lives. 

We yearn to be seen.

Yet, we often make it difficult, if not impossible for others to see us.  Shame around illness and the way in which illness becomes our identity cuts others off from seeing us.  

Jesus, as savior and Lord, does see us, and therefore can heal us.

The artwork is done by Artist Barbara Schwarz, a Dominican Sister.  Her gallery is found here.

Does Jesus come to bring division or peace?

August 17, 2025

"I come not to bring peace, but division..."  Harsh words from Jesus (Luke 12:49-53), especially because he talks about division in our families.

Jesus knows the gap between the way the world should be and the way the world is.  He grieves this.  He also knows that he alone can bridge this gap, hence the fire and hence the passion.

As disciples of Jesus, we are blessed with passion, a holy fire to work towards a better world.

Yes as disciples, we must also learn this passion must be met with humility.  For we ourselves have a gap between the people we should be and the people we are, a gap bridged by the cross of Christ.