Category Archives: art

Moved by compassion

Vincent van Gogh, 1853-1890 Shepherd with a Flock of Sheep Nuenen, September 1884 oil on canvas Mexico City, Museo Soumaya

Vincent van Gogh, 1853-1890
Shepherd with a Flock of Sheep
Nuenen, September 1884
oil on canvas
Mexico City, Museo Soumaya

What moves my heart to feel compassion?

The 10,000 people packed in an open boat, refugees from their homes headed who knows where.

The immigrants lined up at the Salvation Army, waiting—patient, stoic—for a box of food.

My friend with cancer who has been given three months to live.

I cannot live their lives for these precious children of God, but I can be a shepherd of  kindness, encouragement, welcoming, respect, comfort, and generosity to help lighten their heavy burdens.

When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34

 

The simple life

James Tissot, 1836-1902 Il les envoya deux à deux, 1886-1896 Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper Brooklyn Museum

James Tissot, 1836-1902
Il les envoya deux à deux, 1886-1896
Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper
Brooklyn Museum

I don’t need overstocked cupboards, expensive gadgets, a big salary, or an extensive wardrobe to do the work of the Lord. I just need love, compassion, forgiveness, awareness of others and their needs, and a willingness to serve as I am sent.

[Jesus] instructed [the Twelve] to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick— no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. Mark 6:8-9

The whole of the human mystery

James Tissot (1836-1902) Il ne fit pas des miracles mais il guérit Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, 1886-`896 Brooklyn Museum of Art

James Tissot (1836-1902)
Il ne fit pas des miracles mais il guérit
Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, 1886-1896
Brooklyn Museum of Art

When my friend Tina died, people shared so many wonderful memories of her. I was privileged to know about her spiritual insights and longings, her passion for social justice, her loyalty, her good work ethic, her sense of humor, and a few of her daily struggles. Other people knew her in different ways that opened my eyes to see a more complete picture of the beauty of Tina’s humanity. It was humbling for me to acknowledge how limited my viewpoint of Tina was. I realized that we can never know the whole of anyone.

The people in Jesus’ hometown had a limited idea of him. They were so sure that their viewpoint was the “right” one that they were judgmental and skeptical of his gifts. They couldn’t let him be Who he really was in their presence.

Today I am going to remember that I can never know the whole of another—their struggles, their pain, their hopes, their grief, their wounds, their talents, their interests. I am going to practice letting go of judging myself and others. I am going to keep in mind that we all want to be loved and accepted just as we are. And I am going to let God be God.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” Mark 6:4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practicing faith

"Laura

Laura James
The Woman Suffering from Hemorrhages
acrylic on canvas, 2007
Private Collection

Medicine is a practice and doctors don’t always have the answer. But Jesus does.

Today I am going to practice having faith that Jesus has the cure for my ailments, illnesses, and anxieties. I am going to practice reaching out to touch his cloak of compassion, mercy, and peace. I am going to practice tuning in to feel the Lord’s healing in my mind, body, and spirit.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Mark 5:25-29

The cup of Love

© José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro / , via Wikimedia Commons

Capilla de Corpus Christi, Catedral de Burgos
© José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro  via Wikimedia Commons

As a unique, significant member of the Body of Christ, each of us is privileged to share in the unconditional Love that is the New Covenant between God and the human family.

This covenant of Love teaches me to open my eyes, ears, hands, and heart to welcome each of my sisters and brothers in God’s human family; to let go of judgment, resentment, and fear; to give thanks for the grace to learn the way of peace and reconciliation from the Master of Compassion, who is Jesus, who has once and for always healed our brokenness into unity and harmony.

Then [Jesus] took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. Mark 14:23

 

In the presence

Lucia Wiley (1906-1998) Trinidad

Lucia Wiley (1906-1998)
Trinidad

When I wonder if my life has meaning and purpose, I remember Jesus is with me always. How can my life lack meaning if I am at all times in the presence of the Lord?

[Jesus said to them,] “I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

Seeing God

JESUS MAFA. The Ascension, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48398 [retrieved May 17, 2015].

JESUS MAFA. The Ascension, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. [retrieved May 17, 2015].

Looking at Jesus, we see that God forgives, touches, heals, listens, welcomes, serves, and walks with people from all stations in life.

Looking at Jesus, we see that God seeks to fulfill the law of Love: love of God, self, and neighbor.

We see God by studying the person of Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we have been given the grace to imitate Jesus and so give others a glimpse of God.

No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. 1 John 4:12

How many ways to love

Tissot, Le lavement des pieds

James Tissot, 1836-1902
Le lavement des pieds, between 1886 and 1894
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper
Brooklyn Museum

Just for today I am going to think of one way to love one other person.

I may smile at a stranger.
I may invite someone to tea.
I may respond with patience to someone who is irritating me.
I may contact someone who is lonely.
I may thank someone for being there for me.

[Jesus said,] “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” John 15:12

Pruned

Cixi_Vines_with_fruit

Empress Dowager Cixi, 1838-1908
Vines with fruit
ink and water color on silk, first half of 19th c.
Warsaw, National Museum
via Wikimedia Commons

If my heart remains open to and my mind stays focused on Jesus’ teaching to love God, my neighbor, and myself, I can count on being pruned.

Pride, arrogance, selfishness, self-centeredness, shame, low self-esteem, self-pity: these are traits God will prune in order that the fruit I bear in the world ripens into compassion, kindness, acceptance, forgiveness, peace, faith, and love.

[Jesus said to his disciples:] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.” John 15:1-2

 

Open minded

Andrey Mironov oil on cnavas, 2010(Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Andrey Mironov
Peace be with you! (Christ appearing to the apostles)
oil on canavas, 2010
[CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

 Unchanging yet dynamic, the Scriptures call me to listen with my mind, heart, and soul to what they are saying today.

Today I will open my mind to hear the call of God’s word.

Then [Jesus] opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:45