The Eyes of The Soul

“Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.”   Luke 22:61

“Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.”  2 Chronicles 6:40

Her eyes opened and were fixed.  They did not move around to see her loved ones but looked beyond all of us.  I knew she was seeing beyond this world, beyond those in the room.  He opened his eyes, and they were clear blue.  Clearer than they had been in months.  He looked up and his eyes twinkled.  He closed them, and then he was gone.  He looked at me and said nothing verbally, but his eyes spoke of deep love as they filled with tears.  The eyes of death.  I have witnessed many eyes of the dying.  They no longer see the physical world but are fixed on the spiritual realm.

Our eyes.  We have different colors and shapes of eyes.  Some wear glasses or sunglasses.  During this pandemic, eyes are about the only part of a person we have seen when wearing a mask.  I have seen fear in people’s eyes, afraid of being too close to another person.  I have seen loneliness just wanting someone to recognize them or connect with them.  Many people hide behind the mask and do not speak to others.  We do not see another person’s smile behind the mask.  What do your eyes reveal about you?

In our grief, we fear looking at others because we believe they will look deep into our soul and see the pain and hurt.  Or worse, they will not see it.  Our eyes are the window to our souls.  We may try to hide the pain and grief, but someone who has felt the pain and hurt will recognize it in our eyes.  I have seen the emptiness and loneliness in the eyes of those who have lost the love of their life.  I see because my eyes have reflected that same pain and hurt.  Oh, we try to hide it from others, and many do not see it because they have never felt the depth of grief.  When I look into the eyes of someone who is grieving, I see into their soul what they try to keep deep inside.  It wells up into our eyes and sometimes comes out as tears.

Through Holy Week, as I read the scriptures on Jesus’ journey to the cross, I began to imagine the eyes of Jesus.  What did he see?  What was in the eyes of Jesus?  Jesus looked at the crowds on Palm Sunday and saw joy and excitement in eyes of the children who waved palm branches and sang.  Jesus saw the innocence in them.  Jesus went into the temple and threw out those selling and exchanging money. There was anger in Jesus’ eyes because of the disrespect for God and the loss of meaning to the Temple.  Jesus looked into the eyes of each disciple as he washed their feet.  He looked with compassion on those he loved and walked this earth with for three years.  He knew they did not understand, but he loved them.  Jesus looked at Judas knowing he would betray him.  Jesus looked at Peter knowing he would deny him.  Jesus looked with love upon his mother and the disciple he loved.  Jesus looked at the thief on the cross and accepted him.  Jesus looked deep within the soul.

Jesus looks deep into our soul.  He understands our pain and grief.  His eyes reflected that same pain and grief.  He looks with compassion on our loneliness, and quietly surrounds us.  He sees our need and quietly sits with us in our hurt and pain.  He stretched out his arms and died for us to conquer death forever and give to us and our loved one eternal life with him.

Look today in the mirror.  Look into your own eyes.  What do you see?  You may see the pain, loneliness, and emptiness of your life.  You may see the spark fading within you.  You may see fear and uncertainty for your next steps.  Believe that God is looking deep within you with His love and compassion.  You are not alone.  Look this week into the eyes of someone you trust and who loves and accepts you with all your feelings and emotions.  Jesus was resurrected and looked with love into the eyes of the disciples who had denied him and ran away in fear.  They received compassion as they looked into Jesus’ eyes.  We do too. 

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grown strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.”