Face

I have reflected on the Blessed Virgin’s looks at the Face of God.  But what I have failed to reflect on is how God looked back…

The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne (Leonardo Da Vinci)

I have been reflecting very much on the image of the Blessed Virgin watching the Face of her Beloved Son.

I imagine the look on her face as she watched her precious Baby sleeping and eating and playing.  I imagine the look on her face as she watched His face and body change as he grew from a small boy to a teenager to an adult man.  I imagine that the Blessed Virgin watched that face with the loving familiarity of a mother because I watch my children’s faces with a similar sort of familiarity.

They say that zebra mothers walk around their calves when they are born for a few hours after birth as a way for the calf to identify their mother in the herd and as a way for the mother to examine the calf to ensure that the mother will always be able to find her calf to feed it and care for it.  And when my children were born, I felt a little like that zebra mother.  I watched their faces and their fingers and their toes and even their little bottoms, learning all the things about them.  I felt as though I were somehow imprinting the image of my children not only on my mind but also on my very soul.

And I am a mere mother – sinful and imperfect.  And my children are mere humans – sinful and imperfect…

And when I compare my experience to that of the Blessed Virgin – and even Saint Joseph, Foster Father or Christ – who KNEW that this Baby was God, I imagine that the looks directed to that Child would have been a wonder to behold…

And for a long time now I have reflected on the Blessed Virgin’s looks at the Face of God.  But what I have failed to reflect on is how God looked back…

You see, the Blessed Virgin is the Mirror of God.  Her love for Him is a reflection of His love for her.  And today, I have been reflecting on the looks of the God-Child to His mother.  When she fell asleep at night, did He sometimes awaken and watch her face lovingly in the darkness?  While she was cooking for Him and cleaning for Him, did He sometimes sit watching His mother and loving her for her work of love for Him?  While she was speaking with a friend, did He stand quietly next to her and turn his face towards her face, while she was distracted, and watch the conversation move around her?

And what was the expression in His eyes as He watched her?  What was He thinking?  How did He feel?  How much love was there on His face for His mother, who He knew had sacrificed the entirety of her earthly life and her entire Will to His Holy Will?

And I have been thinking about that today as I have been reflecting on the Holy Face of God.  For there is an eternity of contemplation on this topic alone…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.