Advent with St. John Henry Newman
Reflections by Fr. Jason Smith, LC
The well-known expression that our eyes are the window to our soul is true: eyes have the unique capacity to reveal the depths of our hearts—perhaps even more than words.
St. John Henry Newman writes: “One by one we shall have to endure His holy and searching eye. At present we are in a world of shadows. Suddenly it will be rent in twain and vanish away, and our Maker will appear.”
One day, each of us will look into the eyes of Jesus, and he will look into ours. What we will see is an ocean of mercy and love. We will be looked upon by the One who is Love itself.
Advent prepares us for that moment. It helps us to lift our eyes to him now with expectant faith.
And so, as we wait for the day when we shall see him face-to-face, we pray: “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Reflection: Is there a part of your heart, your personality, or your life that you are hesitant to let Christ see? How might you entrust even that place to his loving gaze this Advent?
In this Advent series, Fr. Jason Smith draws from his personal experiences and St. John Henry Newman’s own Advent sermons, connecting themes like reverence, awe, and intimately encountering Christ in the simplicity and stillness of ordinary life. Pray with us on The Regnum Christi App, sign up to have each day’s reflection delivered to your inbox every morning, or follow the RC Spirituality Center on Instagram and Facebook.
Ordained in 2006, Fr. Jason has served as a Legionary priest throughout the US, primarily in New York and Michigan. His newest role has called him south, as the superior of the Houston community of the Legionaries of Christ.
