Good morning…
Three exquisite 4 x 6 inch cards. What an amazing Christmas gift given by my friend. The first card depicts Mary with the Christ child developing in her womb. What do you see as you ponder the image above?
I see dark skin, yellow light, lots of shining stars sprinkling the rich royal blue, inside and around. A strong baby Jesus gestates in the womb, reaching out wide to calm the world’s windy waves. Jesus stood up and commanded the wind, “Be quiet!” and he said to the waves, “Be still!” The wind died down, and there was a great calm (Mark 4:39, GNT).
The second image depicts an exhausted Jesus and a weeping Mary embracing before he is nailed to the cross.
Mary birthed Jesus to die for us all. What emotions do you sense as you study this image?
I notice Mary exuding light even as her tears are falling. Her strong hands and her right cheek shelter her young adult son as he collapses into her care. As bold colorful patterns are backdropped by grey, evergreen, black, I see a loving mother yearning to bear the pain of her son. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of deep sorrows who was no stranger to suffering and grief (Isaiah 53:3, TPT).
…it was our pains he carried — our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed (Isaiah 53:4-5, MSG).
The final card brings to life a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Out of the wombs of a frail world new systems of justice and equality are being born.” I love the use of the word are. Now justice and equality are being born out of our wombs into our frail world.
What do you notice about the image below?
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6, NIV). As the living Christ comes alive with us, how might we be used by God to birth new systems of justice and equality?
…Sue…
P.S. Ignatius House Retreat Center will be hosting the creator of these exquisite cards, Br. Mickey McGrath. I just signed up for the 2-Night Art Retreat: Almost Home being held April 1-3. If you feel drawn to join me, please explore this retreat link.
