Art/ Heritage

MARY, A MASTERPIECE: ‘The Expulsion of Joaquim from the Temple’ by Domenico Ghirlandaio (1486 -90)

Definitely there is something about Mary! A woman called blessed for generations, the mostly highly favoured one of God and the crown of His creation. For ages the faithful have gathered around her devotional care and sought comfort in her motherly mantle. She is hailed with titles and honoured with pilgrimages. Her maternal protection is invoked upon through rosaries, novenas and the scapular.

Mary, the purest lily, the brightest star, has also enamoured artist of all times who attempted to mirror the beauty of her soul in their brilliant works of art. And yet, could the human mind ever do justice to God’s Masterpiece? As we journey towards the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Archdiocesan Heritage Museum invites you, through a series of eight paintings, to admire and absorb the goodness and grace of the Blessed Virgin – the perfect Masterpiece of Christ redemption.

It all began in the little Jewish town of Nazareth. The Feast of the Dedication (Hanukkah) also known as the Festival of lights was at hand. It commemorated the rededication of the Temple altar by Judas Maccabeus in 164 B.C. It was a day of great solemnity and delight for the people of Jerusalem. All the men in the city had gathered under the grandeur of the magnificent Temple built by Solomon to offer their choicest gifts to the Almighty.

Among them was Joaquim, a pious and just man, who was blessed with wealth and still a richer heart. As he joyfully made his way to the altar of sacrifice, people whispered and grumbled. However Joaquim was blissfully unaware of this. He heard not the scorns and felt not the disapproval. Absorbed by the song in his heart and the thanksgiving in his soul, he lifted up his prized lamb and offered it to the High Priest.

Aghast, the High Priest turned his face and despised Joaquim saying: ‘Thou art not worthy to enter into the Temple for you have not conceived a child for Israel.’ As wandering bleats surged the air, the crowd nodded in agreement. With a turbulent mind and a wounded heart, Joaquim covered his face in shame. As the attendant hurried him out of the Temple, Joaquim clutched his beloved lamb ever closer to his heart.

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Faith

Resident evil- Tuesday, 22nd Week in ordinary time – Lk 4:31-37

Jesus is back in Capernaum, an important trade city (polis) with a population of fifteen thousand which was located on the north western shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is here that he had previously worked ‘some miracles’ and would have by now most certainly be known to its inhabitants. His near death experience by a half crazed mob in his hometown of Nazareth is now behind Him and He is undeterred in His mission to liberate all those who are oppressed by the powers of evil.

On a Holy day, the Sabbath, the ‘Holy One of God’ confronts an evil spirit in the synagogue. It is interesting to note that this man was sitting in the synagogue, perhaps every Sabbath, with a demon in him. It would be foolishness to believe that the evil one stays out of a holy place or a holy person. The child sex abuse in the Catholic Church is evidence enough of the ‘demons’ in many men who dedicated their life to holiness. The devil spares none!

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Faith

‘Cliffhanger’ – Monday, 22nd Week in ordinary time – Lk 4:16-30

We begin today the Gospel of Luke and will continue meditating on this Gospel till the end of this year’s liturgical cycle. The author of this Gospel is Luke who is also the author of Acts of the Apostles. He hailed from Syrian Antioch and we know that he was a physician, a master of the Greek language and a companion or collaborator of St Paul. Luke wrote this Gospel sometime between the years 80-85 AD.

Writing in pluralistic Syrian Antioch, he addresses a predominantly Gentile audience and presents a compassionate Jesus whose mission is inclusive and not exclusive. Jesus has a preferential option for the poor, the lost and sinners whom he restores to God. Luke uses the Gospel of Mark as his primary source to tell the narrative of the ‘Lucan Jesus’.

Luke presents Jesus as one who walks the talk. Right at the outset of His Galilean ministry, Jesus announces his mission for the poor and those on the fringes, especially the Gentiles.  It is in His hometown of Nazareth that Jesus declares publically His pastoral mission. There are six incidences in Luke’s Gospel that has Jesus actively involved on the Sabbath.

The Sabbath service was not a triennial cycle of readings as we have them in Church today nor was it led by the ‘ministerial priesthood ‘as we have it today. The reading of today tells us in verse 23 that the people of Nazareth were aware of the things that Jesus had done in Capernaum and in a way acknowledge Him as a Rabbi and so they honour him by allowing him to read the scriptures and preach to them.

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