Tag Archives: art

Words of love

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Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568 – 1625)
The Sermon on the Mount
oil on copper, 1598
Getty Center

Jesus said to his disciples: “But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:24

Pope Leo’s Lenten 2026 message encourages us to listen more deeply to the Word of God and to fast from using hurtful words.

With dedicated mindfulness and a desire to do God’s will, I can learn to monitor my words. I can choose words that are life-giving and reflect wisdom, peace, kindness, reconciliation, hope for unity and mercy—and shine the light of love and goodness in our troubled world.

Today I will ask the Spirit to help me scrutinize how I communicate with myself and others. I will commit to a new habit of fasting from using written or spoken words that discount, disparage, discourage, or denigrate anyone.

Healed by the light

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John August Swanson (1938-2021)
Festival of Lights
Serigraph, 2000
from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56546 [retrieved February 8, 2026]. Original source: Estate of John August Swanson, johnaugustswanson.com

Thus says the LORD:
Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed.
Isaiah 58:7-8

This week I have heard from a number of people about the anxiety they carry. These dark times of racist acts, violence, malicious speech, inhumane practices, greed, and injustice place a heavy burden on us.

Scripture tells us we have the power to lighten the burden and bring light to this dark time with simple acts of kindness: giving food to the hungry, offering protection to the oppressed and homeless, clothing all people with the dignity that is their birthright, and taking responsibility for ourselves and our families.

Today I will demonstrate the power of the Spirit within me by shining the light of respect, peace, humility, kindness, generosity, and mercy on the people I encounter and in the situations I find myself.

Blessed are we

Laura James
Sermon on the Mount, 2010
from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. Original source: Laura James, laurajamesart.com/collections/religious/

Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Matthew 5:7-9

The Beatitudes give me guidance as I practice following the Way of Jesus Christ.
• I must learn to be humble, let go of thinking I have all the answers, and stop lying to myself and others.
• I must learn to move from denial through the stages of grief to accept the sorrows and injustices of life.
• I must learn to endure hardship with patience and without resentment.
• I must learn to desire wholeness, oneness with God and all of Creation.
• I must learn to be compassionate and to forgive those who have hurt me.
• I must learn to embody peace, to be a unifying presence in our divided world.
• I must be willing to do God’s will, to love and respect and seek justice for all people everywhere—even when it means insults and persecution, and perhaps even being killed as Jesus was.

Today I will make the Beatitudes my blueprint for living as a follower of Jesus Christ. In a spirit of humility, I will ask the Lord to cleanse and heal me of my mental, emotional, and spiritual wounds. I will pray for the courage to let go of any fear I have of being insulted, ridiculed, or persecuted for responding to the Lord’s command to love my neighbor as myself.

United in love

James Tissot (1836-1902)
The Calling of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew
gouache over graphite on gray wove paper
between 1886 and 1894
Brookline Museum

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.
1 Corinthians 1:10

The mind and heart and will of God is that we all be unified in and by love, mercy, and peace.

Today I will seek the light of unity rather than the darkness of division in all of my interactions. I will follow the invitation of Jesus to follow him on the path of love, even when others challenge me.

A light for all

Filament of solar material from Sun erupting into space, and that connected with Earth’s magnetic environment

Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:3

Light.
Obedience.
Justice.
Grace.
Peace.
Humility.

This is Jesus, our Lord, our teacher, our mentor, our model.

Here I am, Lord. Holy Spirit, please guide my words, actions, and behaviors that I may fully and completely embody my baptismal promises. May I follow the example of Jesus and humbly do God’s will of love today.

Baptized in peace

Zelenka, Dave. Baptism of Christ
from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him. Matthew 3:13-15

Jesus is a humble servant of God who opens his heart and mind to know and follow the will of God. He is God-with-us to bring peace and justice to all people of every nation. He doesn’t self-aggrandize, boast, or seek power. He doesn’t control, bully or coerce anyone. He shows us how to be in the world by loving, forgiving, and paying attention to the needs of all people, especially the poor and vulnerable. With deep compassion, he reaches out to heal the deepest wounds we carry so that we, too, may align our minds, hearts, and wills with God’s.

Today I will listen to the quiet voice of the Lord. I will ask the Holy Spirit to open my mind and heart to receive and embody God’s healing, peace, and love. May my life reflect God’s will to love, be merciful, and live in peace with all people.

Don’t forget me

Francesco Allegrini da Gubbio (1587–1663)
Christ Crucified with the Good Thief
Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash.
Framing lines in red chalk,
and in pen and brown ink on mount, 1624–63
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 80.3.326

[The other criminal said,] “Jesus, remember me.” Luke 23:42

No one wants to be forgotten, overlooked, ignored. No one wants to be abandoned, rejected, dismissed. No one wants to be excluded, pushed aside, shamed. No one wants to be treated with indifference, malice, inhumanity.

Today I will give thanks that all people have been made in God’s image of love and goodness. I will remember to be aware of the people I encounter and remember everyone deserves to be treated with respect and kindness. I will ask Jesus to help me remember to love my neighbor as myself.

Persevere with love

Pannai, Jaffna Jesus in Sun, 2019

[Jesus answered,] “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Luke 21:9

Persevere in the work of the Lord: love your neighbor, feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, give shelter to the homeless, forgive those who hurt you, love your enemy. Let go of fear. Trust the Lord.

Today I will choose to place my mind, heart, and will into God’s care. I will make a commitment to do the work of compassion, reconciliation, and justice as Jesus has taught me.

Holy temples of God

Rembrandt (1606-1669) Jesus driving the money-changers from the Temple etching, state i/ii, 1635

Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

Each of us is a temple of God, a holy place, a holy being, made in the image of God’s love and goodness.

Whenever we are in the presence of any person, we need to remember we are in the presence of a child of God and are on holy ground. We need to treat everyone with reverence, respect, and kindness. We need to honor each person’s inner dignity because the Holy Spirit dwells in everyone.

Today I will ask Jesus to drive prejudice, disdain, greed, injustice, and indifference out of my mind and heart. I will ask him for the grace to build my life on a foundation of compassion, civility, generosity, peace, and humble service to those in need.

Love is the Truth

Ge, N. N. (Nikolaĭ Nikolaevich), 1831-1894
“What is truth?” Christ and Pilate
Tretyakov Gallery

[Jesus answered,] “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” John 18:37

The truth: God created us out of an almighty, everlasting love that is and was and is to come. There is no beginning and no end to God’s love. We dwell in God’s love in this very moment and always will.

Today I will testify to God’s love by loving my neighbor as myself.