Dear Everyone,
I’ve been enjoying this our Advent readalong. There’s something special about being introduced to a new work of art each day and having the opportunity to meditate on it within the context of Advent. Some of the artwork has surprised me. For example, I’ve never thought of Hieronymous Bosch’s triptych, “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” as an Advent work. But Jane Williams’ commentary places Bosch’s work into a wider context. While she references C.S. Lewis, I think of Dante. The themes Williams emphasizes are certainly themes explored by Dante in his “Inferno,” and a reminder of the purpose of Advent: to save us from ourselves. I had the pleasure of viewing the triptych in person during my last visit to Madrid’s Prado Museum. You can view it here.
I was also surprised but very pleased to see Rembrandt’s “The Return of the Prodigal Son.” This painting is one of my favourites and I feature it in “Gabriel’s Inferno.” Again, although I had never thought of this work as an Advent work, William’s commentary and especially her prayer, caused me to rethink the painting. Here is her prayer, “Lord, lead us this Advent into the abundance of your limitless love, and as your Holy Spirit welcomes us, may we also welcome each other, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Which painting from this first week is your favourite? Did any of them surprise you? As we embark on the second week of Advent, today, I want to thank you once again for joining me on this virtual Advent pilgrimage. I wish you a continued Blessed Advent and I look forward to your comments below.
Thank you for reading,
SR.
I am honoured to have had all three of my novels appear on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists. I was a Semifinalist for Best Author in the 2011 and 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards. {
Querido jefe , como siempre un placer leerte tus palabras .
Muchas gracias Dayni.
Feliz Navidad,
SR
The paintings that caught my attention were Rembrandt’s; a very good interpretation, and in the end, the prayers seem to add to the mystique of Advent. I don’t know if I’m keeping up with the week or if I’m ahead of schedule, but I’m already on the prophet; I really liked that image.
I love these art books! I got caught up with the readings just this evening. I adopted a traumatized adult cat, so my free time of late has been devoted to helping her feel safe/teaching her how to play with toys. It’s funny, when I read Williams’s commentary about C.S. Lewis’s “dungeon of [our] own mind,” I thought, “Wow, yes!” *That’s* where I’ve been since COVID, since my last cat died, since this Terrible Thing, and That Terrible Thing. Never really connecting with anyone, just fighting about politics on social media and thinking a lot about myself, where I’ve gone wrong in life, how tough and heartbreaking everything is. I wasn’t expecting the art and commentary this first week to be so dark, but it’s got my wheels turning. It’s a uniquely human experience to really put ourselves through it, to cause or prolong our own suffering. That Jesus first experienced Hell on the cross, “the hell of separation that human beings have created for themselves,” well, I never thought of it that way! There is a New Age-y expression, “We are the Universe experiencing itself,” that makes me think about how Jesus was the divine experiencing *us*. For the divine to truly know what it’s like to suffer firsthand, as opposed to through omniscience… I find it so sad, yet also comforting? It’s a beautiful thought, to be so understood by God, because Jesus was once human.
My favorite painting this week is the William Holman Hunt painting, though the placement of “The Light of the World” drives me nuts! (Perhaps it’s intentionally a bit off, to hint that artists are human and not divine, kind of like the placement of Pope Francis’s name on his tomb?) I like what Williams says about John 1:10 being like a fairy tale, in which a king disguises himself in order to live amongst the people. One of my favorite Bible verses is Matthew 7:7: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” It’s a bit like Revelation 3:20, except it’s up to us to knock on the door. This also ties in with the prodigal son.
I’ve been thinking about how it’s possible what I’ve been searching for has been with me my entire life.
Thank you so much, Larissa.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the paintings. The Hunt painting is extraordinary,
SR
Although some of these pieces are not what I would normally be drawn to, I’ve so enjoyed each one! I feel like a get something profound out of the message from each. While I found Hunt’s, “The Light of the World”, the most beautiful of the week, I really liked the reminder that we must all be prophets in “Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem.” Loving your Advent selection…each day is a different journey me. ❤️🙏🏻
Thank you, Alayna.
I was struck by the Jeremiah painting, too.
I’d never seen it before,
SR