What, you may ask, does Holy Week have to do with art besides all those Passion plays?
It has to do with creation and recreation and the Imago Dei and the kingdom of God and beauty and transformation.
It has to do with the Creator becoming part of His creation, sacrificing for creation.
It has to do with the Creator redeeming His creation in every way possible, spiritually, physically, relationally, and aesthetically.
It has to do with our participation in that redemption.
We bear the mark, the image, of our Creator God. Part of that mark is creating. Granted, we don't create in the same way that He does, but we create. We build, sculpt, compose, paint, write, fashion. The Fall corrupted this creative process. It hindered our imaginations and abilities. But in Christ we have victory, Christus Victor, as the early church called it. He redeems us, and as part of that redemption, he fills our minds and imaginations.
...so fill our imaginations...
The closer we draw to God, the more alive we become, including our imagination. In art, there is communion with God.
...that we may be wholly Yours...
As we are transformed, we participate in His transformational ministry to the world. We create. We guide others in their formation through our art.
...then use us, we pray, as You will, and always to Your glory and the welfare of Your people...
In some ways, art reflects baptism. It emmerses in the waters of sacrifice, taking on the evil of this world, and it embodies the resurrection, shining with hope and glory. Our art can identify with the sufferings of the world then point to the victory we have over oppression and the oppressor. Our art can take God's beauty and incarnate it to the hurting.
As I enter into the sufferings of Christ, who himself entered into the sufferings of the world, as I anticipate his glorious resurrection, I reflect on this in my art.
Because of the resurrection, I write stories.
Because of the resurrection, I play piano and flute.
Because of the resurrection, I compose musicals and songs.
Because of the resurrection, I create.
Note: I recommend reading through this report on a talk Thomas Cahill gave on church history and art.
Maybe that is why I'm not painting right now. Every time I start I get frustrated and throw it away. I'm also having a hard time in the spiritual.
I would agree Heather. I believe it was G.K. Chesterton who said,
'The volumes and hallways filled with art, show the very fingerprints of God on man.'
So create, for doing anything less could be considered an insult.
-C.S.
This is beautiful...and so true. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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