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Let’s Dream Big!

Location: Florence, Italy

Hello to our dear readers! I hope you are doing well. This is Vicente Cobos from the Diocese of El Paso, TX! I have to say that over these last few days I have been reflecting on the importance of imagination. This reflection started when I had the opportunity to visit the church dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola in Rome—he is big on the importance of imagination in our life of prayer. This theme, of imagination, returned again during our recent retreat. We were reminded to dream big and be creative, especially when things get difficult or boring.

This theme of imagination continued in today’s visit to Florence, Italy. A land that is known as the birthplace of Renaissance art and architecture that is on another level. The way the tour guide taught us about Florence really made the experience exciting. She did it in a way that was both serious and humor-filled at the same time; Francesca took the time to explain everything to us and give us a tour that was entertaining. One of the things that came to mind as we walked on this tour was the great imagination and creativity that took place in Florence. While walking around the city, one of the things that we were able to see was the house of Mona Lisa, who was famously painted and depicted by Leonardo da Vinci. What’s more, in addition to da Vinci, there were many artists that were alive at this time in and around Florence: Dante, Galileo Galilei, Machiavelli, and the one and only Michelangelo.

    • Michelangelo was a very well-known poet, sculptor, painter, and architect known for world masterpieces such as the Pieta in Rome, the Sistine Chapel, and many other art pieces that allow one to enter into the transcendental and heavenly realities. One of the things that I have noticed is that these artists do not get to see the end result of all the effort and time that they poured into these pieces of art. They usually do not see everything that they created. This reality is similar for the saints whose tombs we have visited; most of the time, it is not these saints who get to finish what they had cultivated. 

    This reminds me of 2 Corinthians 9:10, the spiritual summary of which could be summarized by saying that we sow the seeds and the Lord will give the fruits. We have faithful individuals who, while not perfect at all, work for the Kingdom of God and whose fruit is multiplied by God such that what they have been cultivating all this time is brought to abundant fulfillment by God. Perhaps some of these souls working for the Kingdom of God will not be proclaimed saints or servants of God. Nonetheless, their work speaks to their faith and the passion that they had in announcing the Kingdom in a creative way. These people were not interested in their own glory; they all had God in mind. Yet, God, after these people have died, draws attention to these exemplars, not because it gives praise to them, but rather because their life glorified God. This reality must be at the forefront of our minds and hearts as we approach Christmas. Christmas is almost here. We need our lives and imaginations to show forth God’s glory. We must grasp that the Son of God became incarnate. What’s more, every year Christ wishes to be reborn in our hearts. He desires to come inspire and transform us. To breathe new creativity and life into our lives. Christmas celebrates an event out of this world. Many people still don’t grasp or even want to accept what has taken place in a little town in Bethlehem. In a special way artists, poets, and musicians remind us that there is something greater than ourselves and that there is something that is worth giving our lives to. Namely, the most blessed and perfect artist, the true Architect of our lives, Jesus Christ.

    • I pray that you are all doing well. It has been such a blessing to get to know some of the history behind many of the names that we usually just read in textbooks. It is good to get to know the “behind the scenes” of these artists and saints, to see these persons’ humanity and the formation that shaped them to become who they became. Greetings and Blessings. Please keep praying for us as we hit the last stretch of our journey. 

    Best wishes,
    Vicente Cobos A., Diocese of El Paso, TX

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