Art/ Heritage

O MYSTIC MARVEL: The ‘Holy Trinity’ by Masaccio (1425)

 Masaccio (1401 – 1428), born Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone, was one of the greatest artist of the proto Renaissance period. He was nicknamed Masaccio (short for Tommaso).  According to the art historian Vasari, his name recalled his eccentricity and his manner of thought for ‘having fixed his whole mind and will on the matters of art, (he) cared less about himself, and still less about others.’ His brief career drew to a sharp end when in 1428 he died (allegedly) on being poisoned by a jealous rival artist.

In spite of his short life-span Masaccio was an artist of a kind. He rescued art of its artificiality and its ‘other-worldliness’, capturing majestic moments with a sense of naturalism and ease. He cleared away in great measure the rigidness of art and added life to art and art to life. His dynamic reason, vivacity, mysticism and grace eventually laid the scientific and stylistic foundations of Western painting. 

Masaccio’s ground-breaking innovations in the field of art is best expressed by the painting in consideration. One of his greatest achievements, the ‘Holy Trinity’ is found at the Dominican Church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. Masaccio executed this piece in 1425, at the age of 25, just 3 years before his death.

Breathing life, the painting displays the significance of a material world suffused by metaphysical attributes. It dwells on the essence of being ‘in the world but not of the world.’ The principal subject, as the title suggest, is the ‘Throne of Grace’ depicted in the form of the Triune Godhead. The Father holds His crucified Son while the Holy Spirit descends upon Christ in the form of a dove. The theme is scripturally derived from the Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 4, verse 16. It reads: ‘Let us, then, with confidence approach the throne of grace, so that we will obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.’

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Faith

Childlike or childish? Saturday, 7th Week in ordinary time- Mk 10:13-16

Good news spreads fast! Word had spread that the Rabbi from Galilee who teaches with authority and casts out evil spirits has now reached Judea. He has already gained a reputation of being different and unlike the Rabbis of His time, He considers little children to be as important in His ministry as do the adults. He has already placed a little child in their midst as an example of what leadership ought to be. This Rabbi is clearly different; He has affirmed the bond of marriage and now the parents come with their children to Him.  

Yet the understanding of the kingdom is slow to come to those who are closest to Jesus, His own apostles. Twice before He was compelled to correct His disciple’s views on power and authority stressing the role of servant leadership and now He has to reprimand them again. All that the parents wanted for their children was to get a blessing from the Rabbi, which was a common practice at that time. He was shocked at the stern behaviour of his apostles towards the parents and children.

The word used to describe Jesus’ reaction to what he saw was, ‘indignant’; He was not disappointed or upset He was more than that, He was mad. The humble Jesus meek and mild had now turned into the angry Jesus now all riled. He wants the children to be brought to him for it is to such that the kingdom belongs. It is here that Jesus once again seizes the opportunity to teach his disciples an eternal truth about how one approaches the kingdom.

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Faith

Leave, Weave, Cleave – Friday, 7th Week in ordinary time – Mk 10:1-12

Jesus has left Galilee in the north and has arrived in Judea in the south. We are told that crowds followed him and he taught them, “As was his custom.” The mission of Jesus is not marked by a healing ministry but primarily by a teaching ministry. It is through his teaching that he gives us the message of salvation; ironically how far have we swung from this truth.

The teaching that He gives in today’s Gospel was set in the context of a trap that the Pharisees laid for Him. The issue of divorce was one that had sharply divided the Jewish people since Deuteronomy 24:1-4 takes the institution of divorce for granted; it concerns itself only the procedure to be followed when the husband has decided to divorce. According to Jewish law only the husband could institute divorce proceedings though in Roman law even women could, which may have prompted Jesus to make the comment he does in verse 12.

The grounds for divorce in Deuteronomy were vague and at best were described as “some indecency” on the part of the woman. ( note how no such allegation was raised against a man) Hence such kind of vagueness regarding the grounds of divorce led  to a much heated rabbinic discussion that had set people in different corners .  There was also the issue of the much divorced Herod family and this would have drawn Jesus into direct confrontation with the royal family. Either way Jesus was bound to tick someone off.

The question asked by the Pharisees concerns the legality of divorce and not the grounds for divorce. So Jesus teaches the truth and furthers the demands of discipleship that he has already presented in chapter 9.  He now challenges His would be disciples taking their calling to a higher standard.  Interestingly, most people fallaciously think that this teaching is only about divorce; perhaps because that is an issue that plagues many marriages today and we want to know what does Christ say. If you let your eyes settle carefully on the text you will realise that Jesus speaks on marriage and divorce.

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Faith

Salt within you and peace between you- Thursday, 7th Week in ordinary time- Mk 9:41-50

Jesus is in Capernaum and is teaching his apostles privately (vs35). He is teaching them about servant leadership, one that does not find its justification in position and power but one that is as powerless as a little child. It is a child that Jesus places before them, as a model for Christian leadership.

Jesus’ demand from his apostles and by extension to all Christian leaders is not merely to be limited to a ‘reactive ministry’ where the focus is on what one must not do but  a ‘proactive ministry’ by outlining what one must do. Jesus’ concern is not limited to only children but to every person who is at a disadvantage.

Among the disadvantaged are those who are novices in the faith. Mark’s community must have had many such people who were perhaps constantly being disturbed by others in the community. Perhaps this disturbance was not only a matter related to faith but also possibly some who were leading others into sin. It is for this reason that Jesus exhorts his disciples to rather tie a millstone around their neck and jump in the sea than to disturb those who were seeking Him with a sincere heart.

Extending his exhortation a bit further, He hyperbolically (not literally) tells his disciples that the goal of the disciple is to move towards excellence. Being a good Christian leader is good but not good enough; the ideal is to strive for excellence even in one’s moral life. So if ones hand, foot or eye were to cause a Christian leader or a disciple of Christ to deviate from the goal of excellence then they should consider the possibility that heaven would rather be welcoming of an imperfect body but not an imperfect soul.

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Opinion

In the light of the uncalled for attacks on Bishop Anil Couto, the Archbishop of Delhi

It is quite obvious that some media channels serve their political masters. You cant be neutral when your company has been heavily invested in  by a sitting Rajya Sabha member or your company is closely aligned to a political party. Even if they do have their political masters, I believe they are free to report as their conscience bids. BUT should these Channels not declare their affiliations or political alignments OPENLY so that we know clearly which bosses they really answer to ?

I am sure that Bishop Anil Couto and every Catholic of sound faith also serves their master, The Lord Jesus Christ and we have no problem in declaring it openly. The Archbishop asked for prayers, is that also now under censorship ? If so, then his letter is perfectly justified in expressing concern about democratic institutions being under threat. Our call for prayer and fasting does not make us pro any political party or anti national so stop telling a lie to the nation.

Your turn now, PAID MEDIA to step out and declare who your Lords and masters are.

Fr Warner D’Souza

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/catholic-church-reminds-critics-that-it-had-advocated-vote-for-good-governance-at-election-2014/articleshow/64278142.cms?from=mdr

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