45 years ago, I arrived on the campus of the University of Notre Dame to begin my studies as an undergraduate student.  40 years ago, I arrived on the campus of the Catholic University of America to begin my studies as a graduate student as seminarian at the Theological College of CUA.  On each campus I encountered images of Jesus, the Christ, King or Ruler of the Universe, I had never encountered before.
 
 At Notre Dame, the image is on the side of the Hesburgh Library, facing the football stadium.  It can be seen often when national  networks are on campus to broadcast their football games.  At the Catholic University of America, the image is within the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, inside the dome that rises above the main altar.  Each is in a style of art unfamiliar to me when I arrived.  Each also approaches the “subject  matter” in a way unfamiliar to me when I arrived.  
 
Each proclaims a power in Jesus the Christ barely contained within every aspect of his human existence.  Both proclaim a power in Jesus that could overwhelm everyone and everything in his path, IF he should choose to do so.  But the stern look we see is not anger but determination.  That strength is there, not to roll over us or past us, but to abide and persevere with us, for us.
 
The eyes of each image look to see not so much if we are impressed with the artist’s   accomplishment, but to see if we are impressed in such a way as to shape or re-shape our      accomplishments.  The artists and artisans in each case have accomplished a triumph, not so much for the “King” they have captured, but for the “us” they call to faith!