Today’s Reflection
SALVADOR DALI attempted to capture the mystery of Christ on the cross as fully human and fully divine in his best-known painting, Christ of St. John of the Cross. He said the sixteenth-century Spanish mystic Saint John of the Cross inspired him.
In Dali’s vision, Jesus’ body is perfect. No nails penetrate his hands and feet; there is no scar on his side. He hangs freely in front of the cross that soars above the world below. Everything moves toward and flows from his head at the center of the paininting. This is the crucified Jesus who is at the same time the Son of God; the one of whom Paul said, “He is the image of the invisible God. … He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. … in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Colossians 1:15-19).
– James A. Harnish
Easter Earthquake
From pages 61-62 of Easter Earthquake: How Resurrection Shakes Our World by James A. Harnish. Copyright © 2017 by James A. Harnish. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question
What images of Christ are important to your faith? Share your thoughts.
Today’s Scripture
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Psalm 51:12, NRSV
This Week: Pray for persons who experience chronic pain. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.
Did You Know?
In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers. Call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center website.
This week we remember: Patrick of Ireland (March 17).
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Sponsored by Upper Room Ministries ®. Copyright © 2018 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA
14 Comments
I was not familiar with this piece of art – so I looked it up. Pretty powerful.
Many depictions of Christ appear to me to be displaying Him so humbly, One Who doesn’t force His Presence on anyone. Patiently beckoning me to come.
It has been a very hectic week, and today will be no different. School responsibilities are heavy this month.
Amidst all the hecticness I will be stepping away this weekend. Lots of travel time on the road, with my best friend and her daughter and her friend. One last trip to see another friend’s daughter play in the NCAA tournament. She is a senior and it could be her last game. Have only been able to see her play twice this year, with weather hampering efforts to get to games, as well as my parents’ health issues. This weekend is not an ideal time to get away, but in many respects – I am hoping to be refreshed by it. I am grateful to have my best friend along with me. While I haven’t seen her since before my mom’s surgery, we have been in contact daily and she has received many of my fears and tears over the phone. Grateful to be with her for this trip, for what we will share and the laughs that will be had.
Have a safe and good trip Jill!
Blessings to all!
Another familiar image of Jesus that I have cherished for years is of Him standing at a door, preparing to knock softly. (It is a well known painting that you can google easily). I came back to this visual often as I was working through a difficult time in my spiritual life. The image of Jesus right there, close; just beyond the door, ready for me to welcome Him in was a comfort to me. I will look up the Dali portrait to see what that image is like.
So glad you are taking a weekend for your self, Jill. Some rest and distance will be good for you, and I know you are excited about the NCAA women’s basketball season! Enjoy this short respite! Traveling mercies for you, Friend.
I’m heading back over to my hometown for the day. Will take my brother to lunch and run some rewards for him. Praying for a good visit and safe travels. Prayers for all my UR family who visit here.
Please pray for Megan T. She has suffered w unknown illnesses for ten years. Diagnosed recently with Lyme disease, mold toxins, excess metals and they found parasites living in her. She is only 28 with so much to live for, yet feels I’ll so much of the time w nausea and vomiting. Pray for her and her very supportive family as well as her health providers. She has been in intensive treatment since October w some progress, but frustrated that she is still so ill. God Bless.
Prayers and blessings for you both
I have never thought purposely about Jesus and his physical being as I have God. But as I sit here and contemplate Him, I feel and see a kind and wise man who accepts each of us as we are and meets us where we are. As I am from Pittsburgh, I am reminded of Mister Rogers.
Prayers for safe travel for Betsy and Jill.
Prayers for Mary and her parents.
Blessings, prayers and thanks to and for each of my UR family members and their concerns both posted and not
In this world, one needs to be a little too good in order to be good enough.
Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux
Thanks Dear Julie and Robert
Have a wonderful trip Betsy
Blessings to all and may all be well with you
“The Head of Christ” and Betsy, I also like Jesus standing at the door and knocking. “If anyone opens the door……”
Years ago we visited the Dali Museum in Florida on his birthday and signed a birthday card.
Praying for Megan, Susan.
Have a good weekend, friends. Looks like more snow here.
I too am not familiar with Dali’s painting, he is not a favorite artist. Have seen the portrait of Jesus common in Methodist churches many times as well as Jesus at the door. Then there are the images from the Passion of the Christ, DaVinci’s Last Supper and others. I’m trying to figure out how important these all are to my faith. There are passages where Jesus asks those who say they believe if it is because they have seen Him or because He did something for them. Hopefully, one day I will see Jesus face to face.
Prayers for Megan T and her unknown illness. Thank you Susan for sharing that prayer request. With Christ the unknown is not fearful. God knows all and is our help.
Prayers for Jill and Betsy’s travels, for a good time with a best friend at an NCAA women’s basketball game, Mary’s new teaching job, and her family.
Julie and Marcy are in my prayers, healing, recovery, comfort, relief, and God’s strength and wisdom to enable good decisions and bring needed help.
It stopped snowing yesterday, the roads were good, driveway cleared. There’s some very light snow coming now.
Thankful for making it through the bank account hack, for Lenten lunch yesterday, a wonderful supper yesterday. Supper comes from church today.
Pearl is keeping us busy and we are enjoying her.
Two weeks to Good Friday.
Blessings to all, have a great weekend end,
Besides the painting of Jesus about to knock on a door, I also like “Jesus on the road to Emmaus,” in which He is walking on a road in conversation with several disciples; and another painting in which He is seated with little children gathered around Him.
I pray Jill will have a wonderful, restorative weekend.
I pray for Megan, that she will be restored to fill health.
Please pray for my friend Jane, who has a recurrence of cancer, now metastasized, and has started radiation therapy.
Prayers for all UR friends, and blessings.
*restored to full health*
I love the posts of how different pieces of art and images of Jesus speak to us all- I am grateful this week for the prayers from Connie, April, and Robert. I lift up all of you and your families – also your coworker April. Continued prayers for Jill and her parents and Mary and her mum and dad.
For safe travels for those visiting friends and relatives this weekend- for Julie and Marcy in their pain- I pray for relief. For Annalise who struggles with cardiac problems- my mother suffers the same and had several procedures that were only mildly successful – she continues to struggle although she is so strong and her faith prevails. Prayers for Chloe and Paige, Andrea and her daughter and all mothers and daughters- my middle daughter was home for a few days – such a joy to see her. My youngest daughter continues to struggle with stress and anxiety – she is usually so happy to see her sister but the visit this time was marred by the youngest daughter’s neediness and attention seeking behavior – I pray for God to keep my children close to one another and I pray that they will support each other more as they mature. I am thankful for the time we spent together this week
Prayers for Megan and Susan and Andrea’s friend Jane – and all of those struggling with a cancer diagnoses.
Yes- Connie- Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
Peace and love to all this night-
Thanks Dear Lou
May God’s love always surround you and your family
Blessings and have a wonderful weekend everyone
Oh yes, “Christian” love……The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above…….Can you hear me singing?????
Add Comment