Finding Jesus

Fr. Bob

This is my favorite image of Jesus. It’s my favorite because it highlights the humanity and approachableness of Jesus, which facilitates my prayer to Him.

Mary

The image I like the most of Jesus is from "The Agony In the Garden". It seems unusual to like this image. I don't know what draws me to it but perhaps it is that Jesus, in this image, seems most like us! He is kneeling with eyes toward heaven and seeking help from the Father.

I think it is the most relatable image of Jesus being just like one of us here on earth. It shows his solidarity with our humanness and our struggles. He feels what we feel and he knows what it's like to feel sorrow, pain, anxiety and loss. In this regard he is our friend. Who's better to walk with you through life than a friend who can relate?!

Jackie

I really love this picture of Jesus created by Dutch Photographer Bas Uterwijk. This man uses AI to recreate pictures of historical figures. View his generated portraits

We know Jesus is from the Middle East, He was not white. Yet throughout the ages He has been depicted to resemble an Anglo, with blue eyes, pale skin, and long, flowing hair.

Contrary to popular Western interpretations of Jesus’ appearance, researchers have long suggested that the historical Jesus likely had a brown or olive complexion and short hair.

This picture is SO real for me. This is the way I picture Jesus in my mind. He was a real guy whom I would love to hang out with and learn from. A real human being who put his sandals on one at a time. A real human being who had to get up to go to work, even on days he did not feel like it. And a real human being who felt every human experience, good and bad, that I feel. That Jesus understands me. That Jesus is my Jesus. That Jesus whose life was good, but also messy and hard and painful. That Jesus is right here with me in everything I experience as a human being because he understands.

Jen

This painting ‘Christ Blessing the Children’ by Antoine Ansiaux, is my favorite image of Jesus because it shows us how human He was. Even though His disciples seemed to feel these children were insignificant, Jesus showed them that children are the purest of heart and we have so much we can learn from them. This is also the image that comes to mind when my own children are squirming at Mass!

And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me."

Jeanne

I chose this image for a very specific reason. I Can't say I have a favorite image as there are so many to choose from. I like many of them and connect with them in different ways. I chose this image of Jesus for this month as it connects so much to my ministry at Holy Family. This image was hanging on my office wall at Holy Family when I began working here. I was not familiar with it and it took me a little by surprise, but as the years went on I have come to love the continual reminder that the reason I am here doing this ministry is for the people.

We are all called to be children of God in different ways and this image has brought me a constant reminder of my connection to the people and to Christ!

Matt

I love this image of Jesus because it is so raw and real! Jesus had just died on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins. His pain, His hurt, His sacrifice had been completed and our God is laying there lifeless in His mother’s arms and Mary is holding Him with such love and care.

When I was in High School, I played Jesus in our parish’s Living Stations of the Cross, and it was this scene that was the most emotional and moving for me.