The Scriptures call us into the depths of God’s love for us. We are to love God beyond anything or anyone else on earth, with our entire hearts, with our very lives. We are also called to live that love in the world. The same love that claims us in God, we are to offer to other people. We are challenged to live beyond our negative attitudes or degrading thoughts. We are to love those who have less power than we do, widows and orphans, people who are hungry and without shelter. We are to replace our cultural power with the love of Christ for other people.

The charcoal drawing today is called, “The Searching Christ”. Jesus’ face turns to seek us out, to find us even when we believe we are unlovable. Jesus searches out after us, when we are lost among our own false opinions and self-sufficiency, among the fray of feeling left out, among our loved ones with whom we cannot reconcile. Jesus teaches us to love the Father and invites us to love people in our world. Jesus is the presence of hope within us, the attitude of non-violence and the new openness to all people.

“Nothing Else to Give”
Drawing by: Ronald Raab,CSC

I sketched this face in just a few minutes. The quick-draw reminds me that the details of many people in poverty are seldom known to most other people. This face also reminds me that society seldom cares for the detailed needs of such people, they are easily out of our sight and concern. People are often considered worth-less. This face says to me again that we all belong to God. We are called by God to give ourselves not only to God’s love and plan, but to live that love in our world where people are ignored and lost.

The title of this face tells us that we give from our need. We give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and we give to God what is God’s. For so many people, there is nothing left to give Caesar, but we give to God the essence of our lives, the poverty of our humanity. Our true worth comes from the image of Christ on our hearts. Our value does not come from the image of Caesar on a coin. God then, in mercy and love, takes care of our lives, our hearts and our future, in Christ Jesus.

“Without”
Drawing by Ronald Raab, CSC

The invitation to the feast in Matthew’s gospel goes out to people on the streets, from the highways and byways. This man accepted the invitation but was not properly dressed. This image of not wearing a wedding garment shocks us in this gospel. The image is about people who have not been baptized, they are not properly dressed in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. They have yet to belong to the covenant of Christ Jesus, the marriage of heaven and earth.

This drawing shows the scrawny man that is naked and not yet ready to be clothed in Christ Jesus. This simple outline captures his emotions of feeling embarrassed about not yet responding to Christ. He challenges us to ready our lives and hearts because the feast is for every person.