Mirror, mirror . . .

Mother Teresa with the poor children in the slums of Calcutta, in whom she saw the face of Christ. She gathered them from the gutters and cared for them as if she were caring for Christ. True charity and kindness in action.

Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Lent ~ 3/21/23

I found today’s theme difficult to grapple with:  “Growing in Virtue by Seeing Self in Mirror of Christ”. The one compiling the meditations for this book, mentions that “Clare contemplated the face of Christ in the crucifix of the Church of San Damiano outside of Assisi” (p. 60). This is the same crucifix on which hung Christ, who St. Francis said spoke to him and told him to ‘rebuild my church, it is falling apart’.  Francis thought Jesus meant to physically rebuild (wood & stone) the church where the cross hung, but he later realized Jesus meant for him to rebuild the people of the Church. Bring them back to the virtues of charity, humility and poverty.

This is what Clare wrote in a letter to Agnes of Prague (55, pg. 59): “Gaze upon that mirror each day, . . . and continually study your face in it, that you may adorn yourself completely, within and without, covered and arrayed in needlework and similarly adorned with the flowers and garments of all the virtues . . . Indeed, in that mirror, blessed poverty, holy humility, and inexpressible charity shine forth as, with the grace of God, you will be able to contemplate them throughout the entire mirror”. 

I’ve never been a fan of seeing myself in a mirror.  From the time I was very young, we were warned about vanity – such a great sin.  I’m not sure I have even gotten over that.  I still tend to skirt away from seeing images of myself, whether in a compact, or in a storefront window.  My mother used to use store windows, especially the big ones to sneak a peek at her reflection, to see how she looked . . . was she standing straight?  . . . was her hair combed?    . . . was she holding in her stomach?  I didn’t consider it vanity, it was a visual check . . . I still catch myself asking those same questions if I happen past a large store window reflecting myself back to me.  And, I usually catch myself standing a little straighter, holding in my stomach, and touching up my hair. 

From Rumi:  “As you live deeper in the heart, the mirror gets clearer and cleaner.” I think he’s referring to our spiritual heart, the one that will be charitable when it is difficult, and embrace poverty and humility without shame.  Perhaps this is how Mother Teresa was able to see Christ so clearly in diseased faces and bodies.  She saw the body of Christ crucified in the human bodies who suffered so. She saw His wounds in theirs.  She was compelled to care for them, dress their wounds, as if it were Christ in her arms.  This seems beyond our comprehension to emulate, but this was a 21st century woman, now a saint, in our midst.  

 I have a little compact mirror that when opened, says: “Hello, Beautiful!” I smile, but I cannot seem to own that greeting, nor linger with the face looking back at me.  I think this could be a powerful contemplation, though – gaze into a mirror.  Look deeply into the reflection.  Can you see the face of Christ looking back at you?  Can you see Him through the poverty, humility and charity of your actions?  Can you see your true beauty as being created in His image?  Do you see a film of greed, selfishness, or even a bit of cruelty clouding the reflection?

Perhaps in the upcoming days, you can do a little heart-housekeeping.  Take one area of your life that can use some tidying up and get after it!

Gossip? Own it and try to stop talking negatively about others.  

Wasting time?  Make a note of how much time you spend on social media or playing mindless games instead of doing some spiritual reading or prayer.

Apathy or depression?  Find a cause or a person who could really benefit from your help, expertise or listening heart.

These are not necessarily heavy-hitting sins, but they are toe-holds into a potentially deeper divide between you and God.  And, they could lead to the big “Seven”:  pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth.  Imagine there is a mirror on your ceiling or wall - what would God be seeing at any given moment?  Would He be thinking, “Well done, good and faithful servant”?  -or-  “This is my child in whom I am well pleased”?  Now, imagine that is what He is seeing and what He is saying!

May you continue to be blessed on your Lenten journey.