The picture is an altar piece for a chapel in an Episcopal church in Houston. The artist is Kermit Oliver, probably the greatest artist you’ve never heard of. I’ve just returned from viewing a documentary of his life and work: “Portrait of a Postman.”
The painting was commissioned. The Christ figure is not a model. It is Mr. Oliver’s youngest son. His son was convicted of murder in 1998, at the age of 22. He was executed 11 years later. This painting was made after the execution.
The priest of the church said it was a controversial painting in the congregation, because everyone recognized the figure in the painting. Some approved; some decidedly did not. She addressed it as a matter of Christian mercy; that there is no sin that can put us beyond God; and we, as Christians, are called to reflect God’s mercy.
I had a separate, concurrent reaction. I thought of Matthew’s parable of the sheep and the goats. The teaching is that in the lowest, the least deemed worthy, we see the Christ. Or we don’t; but we should. The homeless, the desperately ill, even the condemned prisoner. We see the Christ, which means we see the resurrected Christ, too. Even in the murderer; even in the executed prisoner.
One last thing: the priest likened the background to an atomic explosion, and said from destruction (death) comes life. It’s a good observation. Scripture is full of times God reverses lifelessness and brings life, starting with Sarah’s pregnancy in old age, through to Isaiah’s streams in the dessert, on to the Resurrection. God can even reverse the condemnation of an executed man. Jesus said: “whatever you did (or didn’t do), you did (or didn’t) for me.”
So it’s not about what you see, it’s about what you do: for others. Neither the sheep nor the goats knew who they had not seen; but what they did for the people they did see, is all that mattered.
So, a lesson in seeing. Something art is certainly about.
A thought-provoking post, which why I'm a regular. Well, that and the wit..
ReplyDeleteI’d agree I was a wit, but I’d only be half-right.
ReplyDeleteI owe you a note on my experience in seminary, I finished my summer class last week so finally have a chance to breath and will get that done in this week. In the meantime, I also preached my first sermon, that could be its own comment on the experience. But your comments on the least of of us resonates with what I attempted to include in my sermon, using the example of feeding the hungry. Here is a link that if you copy should work(I still haven't worked out how get a live link). https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AgVYr9F6D/
ReplyDeleteI was guest preacher at my home church and delivered my first sermon ever, titled "How shall we live together." The reading was from Luke 12:32-40 and the sermon focused on the passage "Sell your possessions, and give alms."
My intro to the reading starts at 30:30, but there is a beautiful musical lead in of a saxophone and piano duet at 26:30 (that is frankly better than my sermon).
I am grateful to have this place as a part of my faith journey, the posts and your patient responses to my comments. Peace be with you.
And also with you. I’m not on FacePlace, but if I can get that link to work, I’ll let you know.
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