“Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

A couple years ago, a movement started questioning the image that we use for our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Disturbingly, many were encouraged to destroy and cast aside what was seen as an arbitrarily concocted image, imposed by European artists.  How could anyone claim to know what Jesus Christ truly looked like?  And yet, Paul reinforces for us that he was the image of the invisible God.  In restoring and repairing our relationship with him, God desired that we be able to look upon His face.  This privilege was not only for the generation that lived in the time of the apostles, or those who happened to be physically in the presence of Jesus Christ.

Tradition gives us the account of the King of Eddesa, in modern day Turkey, who heard the stories and longed to meet Jesus of Nazareth.  But when the king’s messenger returned, explaining that Jesus was not able to come, the messenger held out a napkin that had touched our Lord’s face; and unfolding the cloth, a divine image appeared, so that the king, though far away, could look upon the face of God.  This image is known as the Holy Napkin.  Along with the Veil of Veronica and Shroud of Tourin, give us a true image of Jesus Christ.

St. Paul reinforces for us that in Jesus Christ, we have seen the face of God.  Not even Moses or Elijah, until the moment of the Transfiguration, could make this claim.  This is not simply a metaphorical image, or the example of a man who was holy and like God in character.  But does not want to remain invisible and far from us, but seeks to reveal Himself and be known by us.  When we look upon the face of Christ, we see the face of God.