Daily Meditation: Sunday, February 18, 2007

Representations of God, of Christ, of the Virgin and the …

02/18/2007

Representations of God, of Christ, of the Virgin and the saints have at times been taken as signs of idolatry, and in the early centuries of Christianity they gave rise to endless controversy. In reality, however, the question is not whether holy images should exist but how we should think of them. Initiates have a very wise perspective on this matter: they have no need for statues or icons but they regard them with respect, because they know that an entire science and teaching presided at their creation. An image or statue is not an object of worship; it is only an instrument, a support for our reflection and prayer. And this principle is not only valid for holy images but for everything that exists: through beings and objects we can always enter into communication with loftier and more remote realities.