In August last year I had the joy of blessing the new Andrea Pozzo Centre at Saint Ignatius’ College in Athelstone.

I must admit, sadly, that hither unto I had not heard of the Jesuit brother, Andrea Pozzo. His story is worth looking up if you get a chance. His gift as an artist was his mastery of perspective.

So I ask, have you ever lost perspective?

This happens when we lose sight of the big picture, or when we leave out some important details of the small picture. Perspective is how we see things. It’s our outlook or the way we construe something.

Perspective has been defined as ‘the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance’.

When faced with trials or setbacks we can find ourselves struggling with a negative perspective. Discouragement is a common threat to healthy perspective.

Despondency has a way of selectively focusing on certain aspects of life and conveniently overlooking others. Despair is always colour-blind; it can only see the dark tints.

In the Christian life, perspective plays a vital role in shaping how we understand God, ourselves and the world around us. Grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Church, a proper perspective aligns our thoughts and actions with God’s eternal truths and helps us navigate the complexities of life with faith, hope and love.

Being a missionary disciple of Christ, living out our baptism, calls us to view life through the lens of faith, recognising that our earthly existence is part of a much larger divine plan. Faith reshapes our perspective, allowing us to trust in God’s providence even when our circumstances seem unclear or challenging.

Through faith, we see suffering not as meaningless but as an opportunity to unite our trials with Christ’s redemptive suffering. This perspective transforms difficulties into moments of grace, deepening our relationship with God and fostering spiritual growth.

A Christian perspective is grounded in humility, recognising that God is the Creator and we are the beloved creation of God. This humility opens our hearts to gratitude for the countless gifts God has given us, from the beauty of creation to the gift of salvation through Christ. Gratitude transforms how we approach life, fostering contentment and generosity toward others. St Therese of Lisieux, for example, demonstrated the importance of perspective by finding holiness in the ‘little way’ – seeking God in small, everyday acts of love. Her example reminds us that our perspective shapes how we live out our faith in ordinary moments.

Perspective also influences how we view others. Catholic teaching continually emphasises the dignity of every human person, made in the image and likeness of God. When we see others as Christ sees them, we are moved to act with compassion, forgiveness and justice.

The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), explored so beautifully in Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti, challenges us to broaden our perspective, recognising that our neighbour is anyone in need, regardless of societal or personal divisions. This perspective calls us to love without limits, as Christ loves us.

Maintaining a Christian pers-pective helps us navigate a world filled with brokenness and division. Instead of despairing, we are called to be instruments of peace and reconciliation. The Church, as the Body of Christ, provides a communal perspective that unites us in our shared mission to proclaim the Gospel and build God’s kingdom on earth.

Maybe your outlook on life has become dark, complacent or angry. Maybe the colours of life have lost their strength. Maybe some dreams have not been fulfilled. Does the routine of life feel horribly monotonous – without deeper meaning? It can at times.

When we start looking at things the wrong way, a caring friend might say ‘you need to get perspective’ or ‘you really need to change the way you’re seeing things’. When talking to others, it’s not unusual for me to say ‘let’s put this in perspective’.

In perspective-testing times, we have to decide how to look at life. So much of life is affected by how we view it – by our outlook; by the way we construe things. Attitude (which is vital to life) is especially related to perspective.

Losing perspective helps to explain why antisemitism is on the rise at the moment; why minorities within our culture are criticised so heavily. While this loss of perspective does not excuse these actions, it does show what can happen when perspective is lost.

Losing perspective, which is one way of thinking about sin, can happen to each of us. It is a joy that each year we have the great preparation season for Easter, Lent, for Lent is a time to sharpen and deepen our perspective as God’s perspective.

As we begin another year, as we enter more deeply into this year of Jubilee, as pilgrims of hope, let us all open the door of perspective and not only look at life though our own eyes but more importantly God’s eyes. We might ask God’s Holy Spirit, often forgotten on our Christian journey as missionary disciples, to assist us.

Perspective shapes how we live out our Christian calling. By grounding our perspective in faith, hope and love, we align our vision with God’s truth and embrace the fullness of life God desires for us. As we journey through life, let us continually pray for the grace to see as God sees, so that we may bring God’s light to the world and grow ever closer to God. Spoiler alert! In the end God wins!

God’s perspective reminds us that God is good, good indeed.