SD-44: Last day with comments on the Church and Empire from reflections on a trip to Italy.
The paintings and the murals and the mosaics helped to teach. When few people read, this was a way to tell the story. It might not be the whole story - but it could capture your attention.The 'torment of hell' could be seen and it just might scare you into behaving. Then again, the glorious shine of the resurrection and heaven could be the thing that pulls you into acts of loving kindness. Walking into many of the church - even the smallest ones - could pull you into another world of sorts. Those ceilings and walls and windows were not like anything out beyond those front doors - even now. People - including me - often gasp when turning the corner and coming into full view of the beauty of the space. Is it just the beauty that causes us to gasp?
I wonder if in those kinds of places we really are invited to wonder about how full life is and the promises we hear from Scripture. In that wondering it must be noted that we can end up in many different places in regard to our God and what it is to be a follower of Jesus. At that point, it seems as though we eventually fall back on words.The storytelling of Scripture demands that those stories inform the art and the artists. An example is the sculpture of Moses that is in St. Peter in Chains. There he sits with two nice horns on the top of his forehead - a misinterpretation of a verse in the Hebrew scriptures. It is an unfortunate mistake - ask the Jews and hear their story of a people made into a demonic brew because of such images.
The Church does not only change its art, we change the way we see the words of the stories and lessons in Scripture. I am presently reading a book that is re-shaping how I look at the whole story of the Christ - the life of Jesus - his teachings and much of the Hebrew story. Faithful fun.
Connection: What are the pictures that you carry with you? Some of them may be from old books with Bible characters. Some may be from what was said again and again and became a part of you even if you don't agree with them. And yet we each faithfully keep moving forward. That is vital - to keep moving - questioning - contemplating - and putting to life the way of Jesus as come to understand it more and more.
Blessed are you, Maker of all that is and all that will be. When we carry many images of our relationship with you, O God, keep fresh in our minds the grace and love that turns continues to turn over the ways of the world. Amen.
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