Art/ Heritage

Decoding Da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’: a study of the Institution of the Eternal

Undoubtedly the most controversial and timeless meal in history is the Last Supper. This significant event is best memorialized by Leonardo Da Vinci and his equally contentious painting. Born in 1452, Leonardo da Vinci (literally of Vinci, a region in Florence) had an uninhibited search for knowledge. A multifaceted genius, his interest in architecture, engineering, sculpting, mathematics, science, anatomy, biology, astronomy etc won him the epithet ‘The Renaissance Man.’

A narrative chronicled in all the four Gospels, Leonardo’s Last Supper paints the action of the mind and the soul. It was commissioned by the Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan in 1495 for the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The sacramental iconography was meant to create an illusionary extension which transported the dining friars to the ‘upper room.’

The arena is a rectangular room with coffers on the ceiling and tapestries on the sides. It is flanked by windows at the end of the wall. The balance is set by the gigantic white table cloth. Christ occupies the center of the composition with two groups of three apostles each on his either side. The painting reflects the reaction of the apostles to the action of Christ when he revealed, ‘One of you is going to betray me’.

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Sacred Tridum – Maundy Thursday – John 13:1-15

Even though it is called the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, there is no reference to the meal per se in the choice of this text. John is the only gospel, among the four, that focuses on the foot washing. The meal becomes the setting for the foot washing of His disciples; a meal in which He institutes the Eucharist, institutes the commandment of love, ‘to do as He has done,’ and institutes the priesthood through the foot washing ritual and a pastoral commandment to the eleven ‘newly ordained ministers’.

Interestingly, unlike the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), John holds that Jesus died on the ‘day of preparation’. This is the day when the lambs were sacrificed in the temple and this is the day for John on which Jesus, ‘the Lamb of God’ dies on Calvary.

Now before you start getting uppity and wondering how the gospels can be giving us ‘contradictory’ evidences, remember what the Gospel’s were meant to be; not biographies! The Gospels are post resurrection narratives, written by the evangelists in the context of their communities, to whom they were writing for.

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Second last sin- Holy Week – Wednesday- Mathew 26:14-25

Matthews’s account of the betrayal of Jesus is preceded by the anointing of Jesus feet by ‘a woman’ at the house of Simon the leper. Interestingly in Mathew’s account, the woman is not Mary of Bethany, nor is the meeting at Lazarus’s house, but at Simon’s house. Noteworthy is that Matthew blames ‘all the disciples’ for being ‘angry’ at this ‘wasteful’ use of the expensive ointment.

In Matthew’s Gospel, Judas does not have an active role in the episode, unlike in John’s Gospel. But Matthew continues this incident, of the anointing of Jesus feet, with a Judas incident. Perhaps, a far more deadly one! Matthew thus contrasts the woman’s love with Judas hate.

The Gospels never explicitly tell us why Judas betrayed the Lord. We know that satan entered him and he gave into temptation. What we do see, is what happens after he gives in to satan’s invitation to sin. Judas surely played hardball with the chief priests in negotiating a deal. His question to them is pointed, “What will you give me if I betray Him to you?” The parameters of the deal were clear; it involved betrayal and a consideration.

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Deserters, Betrayers, Deniers- Holy Week – Tuesday- John 13:21-33, 36-38

I admit, to a certain extent, I would be flummoxed as to what I was to do, if I was told that tonight would be the last night of my life. Eating a meal would be the last thing on my mind and even if I did, who would I share that with?

Meals were an integral part of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus practically ate His way through the gospels. Today’s reading consists of extracts from the last supper with a deliberate intent to focus on Judas. But before we really go harsh on Judas don’t forget that Jesus sat down for His last meal with all sorts.

Peter would deny the Lord not once but three times. James and John, along with Peter, were singled out ‘remain with Him and stay awake’ in Gethsemane; they failed Him thrice. The gospel of Mark 14:51, tells us that a ‘certain young man was following Him wearing nothing but a linen cloth but when they caught hold of him he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.’ By the time they reach the foot of the cross all the men, barring John, have gone into hiding.

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There is something about Mary…Mary of Bethany
Holy Week – Monday
John 12: 1-11

Betrayal is written all over the next three days; and Judas, the betrayer is at the heart of it. But then again it all depends on what you want to see, betrayal or love. Because within the gospel texts, from today to Sunday, we also see people of faith, people like you and me who love the Lord, yet struggle; Peter, John, Nicodemus, Veronica, Simon of Cyrene, the women who followed Jesus , Mary the mother of Jesus and then there is Mary of Bethany.

Most likely, the reader of today’s gospel will breeze over the text and settle on the Judas interaction. He seems to somehow, get our attention; the Lords betrayer, thirty silver pieces, the man who tainted the word ‘kiss’. But look carefully, there is another character whose most seemingly simple action would merely get a ‘that’s nice’ nod from us. She is Mary of Bethany and she deserves much of our admiration and attention.

What do we know about Mary? For starters she loves Jesus and she loves to be at his feet. When the Lord visits her home, she is at His feet, while Martha complained away (Luke 10: 39). When her brother Lazarus dies, she too with her sister tells Him, “If you had been here my brother would not have died” and then she is at his feet. (John 11:32) Watch where she is today? No prizes for guessing she is at His feet. (John 12:3)

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