Jesus Lives in You: Now Let Us Remain in Him
- Bishop Stephen J Berg
- Aug 7
- 2 min read
Upon taking her vows as a Carmelite nun, St Therese of Lisieux began to sign her name as “Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.” She later wrote, “Until my coming to Carmel, I had never fathomed the depths of the treasures hidden in the Holy Face.” Among the many images pinned to the walls of her little room she discovered, growing through her devotion to Jesus as Child, His transposition into maturity as a true friend who cared and suffered deeply, with mysteries of love hidden, and only revealed, in contemplation of the image of His Holy Face.
We reflect on the importance of the images of Jesus in our Catholic faith. While no portraits of Jesus were painted at the time, certain images have been indicated over millennia as divinely revealed, authenticated in faith. We all have a favorite image of Jesus which somehow has become imprinted in our hearts and revealed in our prayer. Jesus, in fact, lives within us, active, acute, willing and able in the Holy Spirit, given and received through our baptism. He gives an image, uniquely and personally designed for each one of us, through our prayer.
"We reflect on the importance of the images of Jesus in our Catholic faith."
Does our prayer go directly to Jesus as a person, in communication as with our truest friend? Or are we speaking from the door of a dark room, hoping someone is inside listening? Jesus gives each of us the image which He knows will resonate. He lives in you. Communicate with Him.
In this Jubilee Year of the Pilgrimage of Hope, in visiting churches across the diocese I have been especially alert to the images of Jesus portrayed in the worship spaces. I look to see the expression on His face, whether in the arms of Mary or Joseph, or teaching the elders in the synagogue, or hanging on the cross. I wait to see how this image resonates (or not) with the Jesus who lives within me. Thus does my internal image grow and take shape. I begin to share His life in my senses.
"Jesus gives each of us the image which He knows will resonate. He lives in you. Communicate with Him."
In order to remain in Jesus, we all need encouragement and structure. We need to remember always to put God first. In our daily prayer, weekly Mass, and regular confessions, may we also remember: Jesus is closer to us than we are to ourselves. His image is alive within. Now we can remain in Him always.
To learn more about devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus, please visit:
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+Most Reverend Stephen J. Berg
Bishop of Pueblo
