IN THIS EPISODE
The Face of Jesus in the PoorPainter Joe Anastasi, a retired advertising executive, reads Richard Rohr on prayer. Anastasi prays over and paints formal portraits of the homeless he meets in his volunteer work because he wants others to respect their stories.
WRITING PROMPT Iconographer Fr. William Hart McNichols once wrote “We are formed by what we gaze at.” These days we gaze at screens, of smartphones and televisions, which form us into consumers. But when we gaze at an icon and are formed by it, we can become a radiant presence of divine energy, a holy light in a darkened world.
Open yourself to the humanity of Joe Anastasi’s portraits displayed above. Write about what qualities you see in them that reflect the face of God. Courage? Humility? Compassion? Then contemplate how what you see will change you in your daily activities today. How have you been formed so you can become a conduit of the God of Life?
Joe Anastasi works with the homeless through the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Columbus, Ohio. He is a retired advertising executive who felt called to capture the hope and dignity of the people he serves at local shelters by painting their portraits and sharing their stories. He often lectures at local parishes and raises thousands of dollars for agencies that support the poor. His story and more of his artwork is featured in the June 2019 issue of U.S. Catholic magazine.