Icons of The Virgin’s Heart Part 2: The Heart that Draws Near

In Part 2 of Icons of the Virgin’s Heart, we meditate on the beautiful Eleusa icon, often called The Mother of Tenderness. An icon is more than religious artwork. It is theology that we can see. Every gesture, color, posture, and symbol tells the story of salvation. In the Eleusa icon, Christ presses His face against His mother and reaches His arm toward her, revealing something profound about the heart of God: God wants to come close to us. From the Garden of Eden to the Incarnation, from the Good Shepherd to the Prodigal Son, Scripture reveals a God who continually moves toward humanity. Before we reached for Him, He reached for us. St. Mary stands in the icon as the representative of humanity receiving the embrace of God. Where Adam and Eve hid, she draws near. Where Eve disobeyed, St. Mary responds, “Let it be to me according to your word.” The icon also points us toward the Eucharist, the Cross, the Resurrection, and the ultimate purpose of the Christian life: communion and oneness with God. And from this icon comes a simple invitation for every Christian: Receive Christ. Carry Christ. Offer Christ. We receive Him in communion, carry Him within us, and then become an offering of His love to our families, neighbors, communities, and the world. May we stop simply living around Christ and allow Him to come close enough to transform us.