Fix Your Eyes on Me

Guest post by David Johnson, Taming the Wilds.

I once heard a message in my soul as if it were Jesus speaking to me from the cross:

Fix your eyes on Me, and I will lead you to the chasm of My Heart’s love for you.

I was battling a great disquiet in my soul and the world’s constant and distracting pulls. I was upset by my sins and imperfections — overlooking grace and mercy — and I was hungry for the love of God.

God broke through the chaos of my disjointed prayers that day and gave me that message, which I will never forget. It was simple, sweet, and trustworthy. And to hear the words so clearly — that was also a rarity for me. The message contained so much truth to remedy my weary thoughts.
Fix your eyes on Me…

Jesus was asking me to focus only on Him. I am reminded of when Peter ventured out upon the water to meet His Lord upon the waves of Galilee. When Peter’s eyes fell to the lapping waves all around, he began to sink.

And I will lead you…

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
~ John 10:27

I am safe with Jesus the Shepherd. He leads me to all of the verdant pastures, and He keeps me safe from the rebellious monsters that lurk at the periphery and seek my undoing. Jesus will lead me if I follow Him.

To the chasm of My Heart’s love…

This phrase was always the most striking and puzzling. What was the “chasm”? In time I began to think of the pierced side where St. Longinus thrust in his spear. Jesus, who is God, is like a mountain. His pierced side is like a canyon in this mountain. This same wound is a portal to His Heart. Blood and water gushed forth from this place — the same Eucharistic life force which sustains me today.

As the years come and go and my wandering love returns to Jesus again and again, I go back to this message. In it contains the promise of faith in Christ. The promise that if I abide in Jesus, I can never be lost.

___

Image: Luini Bernardino, Crucifixion with Intercessors (The Crucifixion with Sts Paul and Francis) (1530) / PD-US
Also view: Gerard de la Vallée, Longinus piercing Christ’s side with a spear (1626 – 1667)