Lent - The Twentieth Day

I think Niall McCarthy (eastcorkpainter.com)
has created a painting that actually makes you squint.

 "Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end." Isaiah 60 verse 20

This sounds like a repeat of yesterday's verse. But we have moved on to the new Sun and moon.  The presence of the Creator with us will be our constant.  It is right now, but the waning does continue to occur this side of heaven.  The creators presence is with us, but there is also swirling fog, and many impediments to experiencing the full glory. We are looking forward to a time when there will be perfect clarity.

Question: Am I ok with the idea of change?  Am I ready for a new heaven and a new earth?

Prayer: I commit myself to you today, and for ever more.

Lent - Day Nineteen

Sun and Moon and Cosmos by Chuck Elliot
Credit: chuckelliott.com

"The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory." Isaiah 60 verse 19

These are the words re read again in Revelation 22.5 

"And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever."

It reminds me that from the start God intended to be intimately involved.  It is almost as if that in the Garden of Eden, God becomes disappointed/disillusioned that humanity does just want to 'partner' with them.  Someone else is needed.  Again when Israel demands a king, God say, ok, you could have just had me, but have it your way, and understand that you are choosing to suffer.

Isaiah is prophesying a return to the original and best plan, where suffering will not be present, or necessary.

Question:  How can I restore this relationship with the Creator right now?

Prayer: Thank you for never giving up on us.

Lent - Day Eighteen

Temple Bar by Louise Rayner,
credit: Haynes Fine Art

"No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise." Praise. Isaiah 60 verse 18

I was delighted when the Temple Bar was brought back to central London.  It could not go back were is featured in this picture for the same reasons that it was moved in the first place.  

Cities are vulnerable to destruction.  But this city is a city of peace.  The walls now symbolise a circle of salvation.  The gates cry out 'praise' to our creator, just as they stones were ready to do when Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey (City of Peace see Psalm 122:6).  for most in this world, peace is always just for a time.  We like to think that peace will be forever, but it can not be, as history testifies.

Question: Is my 'coming in', and 'going out' filled with praise?

Prayer: May I know your walls of salvation about me, and those who enter hear praise to your name.

See and read more about the project to restore the Temple Bar and bring it back to the City.

Lent - Day Seventeen

Guernica, by Pablo Picasso, Prado. Madrid.

"Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler." Isaiah 60 verse 17

This is 'the upgrade'.  We are not going for 'get by' theology.  Nothing but 'the best'.  Peace and well-being will rule over us.  Surely this far more important that riches and wealth.  We know that physical realities are important, they are nothing to the spiritual certainty and security that will never rust, or deteriorate.

Question:  What is most valuable to me?  Is it made of theological silver and gold?

Prayer:  May peace and well-being rule over me as I worship you.

Third Sunday in Lent

 

New Community by Abdur Bham,
Credit: Saatchi Art

The Community of the Lord

Lent - Day Sixteen

Virgio Lactans, by Jean Fouquet,
right wing of the Melun Diptych, 
Royal Museum of Antwerp

"You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Saviour, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." Isaiah 60 verse 16

Traditionally, Royals used wetnurses to feed their babies.  A royal breast is rather special.  

Until the Council of Trent in the mid sixteenth century (which disapproved of the nudity), 'Madonna del Latte' was an understood motif in religious art.  Milk was seen as a close relation to blood, and the picture signified that just as Christ was dependent on his mother for sustenance and survival, we too depend on imbibing Jesus' blood to 'live'.

Question:  Am I aware that my life is sustained everyday by the Lord?

Prayer: I honour you for the life you give, and cherish it daily.

What about the left wing of the Diptych?  Well, the two wing, originally created for Collegiate Church of  Notre Dame in Melun, south east of Paris,  were separated and the portrait of the patron with St Steven can be seen in Berlin at the Saatliche Museen.

Étienne Chevalier,
the treasurer to King Charles VII of France

Lent - Day Fifteen

Dead End by Stephanie CZYBA
for sale at Saatchi Art

“Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations. Isaiah 60 verse 15

The stone that was rejected has become the cornerstone.  In the edict of Milan (313AD), Emperor Constantine revoked the outlawing of Christianity.  In 347 AD he made Christianity the official religion.  Soon after this he died and Emperor Julian returned to persecuting Christian believer.  Amazingly this did not last for long.  But as Brian McLaren  says (see link for book) good and bad consequences follow from forsaken to prescribed religion.  Now the name of God can be evoked to justify anything. 

Question:  Where is the radical in my religion?

Prayer:  May I walk with you as in the Garden of Eden.