“Searching”
Conte sketch: Ronald Raab, CSC

The three wise men searched for the person of Christ, the Light of the World. They carried with them fortunes for the newborn king.

We are all searching for the Light. We are all searching for something. We get distracted by “shiny things”. Those things are often poison to the search itself…drugs, alcohol, money, power, greed and an abundance of possessions. We are distracted by the many shiny objects that seem to promise us comfort, identity or richness.

The Light of Christ only shows us the path of life. This light will light up the path to the future, it will show us how to walk in the darkness of doubt, illness, addiction or how to navigate family relationships.

We search along with the kings not among power and grandeur, but in our own vulnerability and deep human longing. The Light of Christ shines forth in every human heart.

“Simeon: For my eyes have seen your salvation”
Charcoal: Ronald Raab,CSC

Simeon took Jesus into his arms and blessed God saying, “Now master you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation,which you have prepared in the sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory of your people Israel.”

On the this weekend, we celebrate the Holy Family, the Christ Child as a revelation of God’s love for all people. We all belong in the light of this love, we all belong among those for whom love is revealed in the person of Christ Jesus. No matter our heritage, our choices in life, our poverty or our riches, our relationships or our backgrounds, we claim today that Christ is our Light in the darkness, our hope for our place in the world. We are the family of God here on earth.

“Christmas Feast”
By: Ronald Raab, CSC

Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears my voice and opens the door to me, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. (Rev 3:20)

Blessings to all and Merry Christmas,

Ron

“Mother and Child”
Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC

Light of Christ, shine in our darkness.  Merry Christmas.

“Warrior Prophet, John”
Acrylics: Ronald Raab, CSC

(My homily at Sacred Heart Church today included a viewing of all of my drawings and paintings of faces. I read the homily today while the faces where shown above the altar. I do not have all of those available here.)

I grieve my father’s face in Advent. He died one December in the cold Midwestern days. His mother also died years before in the same Advent month. I remember his expressions becoming frozen… not from the weather outside… but from the numbing effects of Parkinson’s disease. Continue reading →

“One Crying Out”
Painting in acrylics of John the Baptist
By: Ronald Raab, CSC

John emerges from the rustic dessert to point his entire being into the direction of the Kingdom of God. He challenges our ears with his mighty words, our attitudes with his deeds and our souls with his conviction.

This image of John speaks to us about this own self-emptying, his life living in the wild to explore his connection to Jesus, the Messiah. Our paths must be straight ahead, our voices strong in proclaiming the coming of God, our lives centered only on the life God is giving us. John, the radical prophetic witness of the New Testament, models for us the life we are called to lead. Our hearts, energy and conviction must be centered on the coming of his cousin, Christ Jesus.

John the Baptist challenges our notions of Advent preparation. These days are not cozy and nostalgic, not designed for self-gain or self-focus, but how God is striving to break into lives that need forgiveness and hope. We are to point into the direction of God for those who hunger for the basics of life, for those who cannot survive their reality alone and for people who need the tenderness of mercy.

“Stay Awake”
Painting in Acrylics: Ronald Raab, CSC

Mark’s gospel (13:33-37) begins our Advent journey with Jesus’ words to stay vigilant and awake. We are to quicken our heart’s response to Jesus’ presence in the here and now and learn to rely once again on the power of God for our future in heaven. Advent is meant to cultivate our desire for God. We are to rise from our sleepy ways, realize our dependence on God and rouse our heart’s desire for God alone. Nothing on earth is to claim our heart with such passion and intention.

There are many circumstances in life that render us drowsy and alone. We often think we can save ourselves from our circumstances in life, from our infidelity in marriage or from wanting to control our children’s lives. We judge our colleagues, get revenge in our career, cheat in our classrooms, use people for our own needs and betray our true gifts.  God shakes us from our slumber, our apathy and mistrust in these days that prepare us for Christmas.

Advent claims our hearts again to love God and to serve others.  Advent shows us a straight path in our crooked and unfortunate ways. This painting is a reflection of John the Baptist, the one who calls us out of slumber and obstinate ways. We will hear from John in the next two Sundays of Advent. The eyes of this man are tired and stressed from wanting to lay his eyes on the beauty of the Lord’s coming, the real presence of God’s love. May our eyes not rest until they rest on the face of Jesus.

“Simplicity of Gratitude”
Sketch: Ronald Raab, CSC

A childlike sketch of profound gratitude in the scriptures. Jesus cures the lepers. This intense, human experience of coming to Jesus with deep scars and lasting wounds is the source of our gratitude today. Salvation is a free gift. The love and healing touch of Jesus is really for us. This gospel today tells us that we stand on the soil of God’s presence, not just the soil of the United States. We tell of our freedom, not just under a flag but in the heart of Christ Jesus. We live in childlike wonder in not what we can accomplish for ourselves, but what the Risen Christ is doing within us. Gratitude is instinctual in faith, at the heart and meaning of the Eucharist not just today, but every day of our lives.