Encountering Christ in the Gospels—Star-Stuff and the Face of Christ

What will we encounter when we meet the face of Christ?

John’s Gospel starts not in Bethlehem like the others, but courageously with creation itself: “In the beginning was the Word.” In the beginning was everything. There were stars, oceans, flowers, humans, trees, and the sun. John sees Jesus not only as a teacher walking dusty roads, but as the Divine Word from which all things came to be. This notion changes everything. To encounter Christ is not simply to meet a man from Nazareth but to meet the living universe itself.

Sitting with some friends on their property this weekend, taking care of some purple martin birds, I was struck by the magnitude of God. Having listed just over one hundred birds this year using the Merlin app, I am awestruck by the power of differentiation in God’s creation. I took time later that weekend to stare deeply into the stars, and I was overcome by the night sky. The magnitude overwhelmed me.

St. Ignatius gazed at the night sky, often receiving deep consolation in God’s grandeur. I understand this prayer. Like John, my spirit begins with the universe, Christ’s greatest gift. The cosmos is not empty; it is charged with divine love.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin imagined this beautifully when he wrote of Christ’s “cosmic body” extending throughout the universe. Even modern science echoes this mystery: we are made of star-stuff. The atoms in our bodies were forged in ancient stars. And yet, through John’s Gospel, we are invited even deeper—this star-stuff is not random dust. It is creation spoken into being through Christ. The Holy Spirit animates it all.

Then comes the astounding truth of the Incarnation: Christ took on this same star-stuff. The Word became flesh. God entered matter, entered dust, entered us.

In Ignatian prayer, I imagine standing before the Risen Christ on Easter morning. He is not distant or abstract. He bears wounds, yet radiates life. He looks at me with love and asks: “Do you see? I am making all things new—even you.”

This encounter reveals both God and myself. God is nearer than I imagined—present in creation, in suffering, in resurrection. And I am more beloved, more connected, and more called than I knew. Christ’s resurrection is not only about his victory over death; it is an invitation into union. He calls us to become his living body on earth.

St. Teresa of Avila’s words ring true: “Christ has no body now but yours.” The cosmic Christ who created the stars now chooses to love the world through our hands, our compassion, our presence.

This is the challenge of Matthew 5 and Matthew 25. Be light. Be mercy. Feed, clothe, visit, love. The Risen Christ is encountered not only in prayer, but in the hungry, the poor, and the overlooked.

So I invite you: Enter the Gospel story. Stand before the empty tomb. Walk with Mary Magdalene as she hears her name. Gaze with Ignatius at the stars. Listen.

What is Christ revealing to you?

Perhaps that the God who made galaxies also knows your wounds. Perhaps that resurrection is already unfolding in hidden places. Perhaps that the flowers, the sea, and the stars are whispering the same truth:

You are made through Christ, filled with his Spirit, and called to become his body in the world.

Going Deeper

• Go outside—Step into creation and let the world God loves remind you that you, too, belong within it. For an Ignatian prayer guide as you experience nature, consider Deb Gregory’s book, Spiritual Wayfinding.

• Collect Birds—Pay attention to the living diversity, and allow each distinctive bird to awaken wonder, patience, and gratitude. The Merlin app is a great resource for birding.

• See the stars—Lift your eyes beyond yourself and receive the vastness that both humbles you and holds you.

• Read the Gospel of John—Enter the story where Christ reveals not only who God is, but who you are in him.

• Read books—Read slowly and attentively, allowing good stories to shape your imagination toward truth, compassion, and depth. (Stephanie’s two favorites this year have been The Correspondent and Theo of Golden.)

• Create beauty—Paint, write, make music, cocreate with God, offering your gifts freely and join God’s ongoing work of bringing beauty, meaning, and love into the world.

Photo by NASA on Unsplash.

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Stephanie Clouatre Davis

Stephanie Clouatre Davis graduated from Loyola University New Orleans. Stephanie speaks to adults and teens around the nation at parishes, high schools, and dioceses in various venues including retreats and conferences. With humor, joy, and stories, Stephanie not only fully engages her audiences but also inspires them to challenge themselves and build a stronger relationship with God. She lives in Covington, Louisiana with her husband Michael and two girls Emma and Abby.