Todays #LentArt post is a painting of Jesus in the crown of thorns by Mark Klaisner, a United Methodist Minister in Wisconsin USA. Mark has a skill with a paintbrush that it beyond me, and I find that those with such a skill open my eyes to things in the world and indeed the words of scripture that are often beyond my field of vision, and that is why I often use the art of others to explore Biblical texts in a way that is not about mere illustration, but which is about opening them up. Martin touched on this in his reflection last night. I hope that this exercise has been helpful to others apart from myself.
My “thing” is not painting but words. Be it the words with which I seek to explore the world and words of scripture in sermons, or the words in action to be found in theatre, or the distillation of ideas into fewer words that is what I seek to do in my attempts at poetry.
And my response tonight to the many words to be found in the Gospel reading for the lectionary tonight, John chapters 18 and 19, (too many to post here but which we will be reading in our online Tenebrae Service on YouTube this evening), and to Mark’s poem is a poem… with its words largely taken from those two chapters of John.
A King not of this world
Crowned with thorns not gold.
Flogged not fawned over.
Exalted on a cross not a dias and throne.
Not dressed in silk and ermine
But stripped naked for all to see.
Religious authority restored.
Imperial power affirmed.
Necessity triumphs over truth.
Law trumps love.
“Here is your King!”
“He’s not our king
Take him away.
Give us the bandit,
Or the oppressor,
Anyone but him!"
“The King of the Jews.”
“Not so,
No matter how many languages
You write it in.”
“He said he was King of the Jews.”
Not so.
No matter how many languages
You write it in.
A God who thirsts.
A God who has a mother.
A God who dies.
It is finished.
Quick lets get him out of the way.
PRAYER (as used in tonight’s online Tenebrae Service)
In the Letter to the Hebrews in today's lectionary we read:
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 (NIV)
In the light of that, let us pray:
Gracious God, we thank you that you are not distant from us -
You are not deaf to our plight
But in your great love for us you sent us your Son
To share in our weakness and suffering.
Our great High Priest forever interceding for us
A light in the darkness
We pray tonight for those who feel
that they are in the midst of darkness at this time
The darkness of fear; the darkness of loneliness;
The darkness of grief; The darkness of despair; the darkness of poverty
Wherever shadows threaten to overwhelm
Wherever they erode dignity or crush the spirit,
Wherever they hold terror, or danger, or hopelessness
Come Lord Jesus, light of the world,
Shine in the darkness
We pray today for all victims and perpetrators of violence
For those whose bodies have been violated
For those whose bodies have been harmed or abused
For those who have lost sight of the holiness of the human body
And the value of human life
Come Lord Jesus, light of the world,
Shine in the darkness
We pray today for those whose bodies are ravaged by illness
Particularly those dealing with covid-19
Or whose conditions have been rendered more dangerous
Because of this disease
For those who live with chronic pain, or fatigue, or disability
For those whose bodies are failing and nearing the end of life
Come Lord Jesus, light of the world,
Shine in the darkness
We pray today for our bodies
With all their aches and pains
With all their limitations
The secrets and memories they hold
The lines, scars and markings they bear
Their vulnerability, their woundedness
We bring our bodies to you, whatever state they are in
Help us to love, cherish and care for them.
Come Lord Jesus, light of the world,
Shine in the darkness
Amen.
Selah
Comments