Today's Gospel in Art - Going back to seminary

The Long Leg, by Edward Hopper 1935 © The Huntington Art Collections, San Marino, CA

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 23rd September 2021 - Luke 9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch had heard about all that was being done by Jesus; and he was puzzled, because some people were saying that John had risen from the dead, others that Elijah had reappeared, still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. But Herod said, 'John? I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?' And he was anxious to see Jesus.

Reflection on the Painting

Today I am traveling back to Rome to start my third year of seminary. I had a wonderful Summer. In July I went on a very enjoyable, nurturing parish placement, followed by some holidays in August in Scotland, Ireland and Belgium. All good fun. But now the journey and formation continues. I look forward to going back. My first year in seminary was a beautiful year. God gave me a lot of joy and consolation in that year. But God does not want us to fall in love with the feelings of consolation and joy; He wants us to fall in love with Him! So I experienced my second year in seminary as one where I maybe entered a more honest friendship with Him. I think I matured away from the feelings and consolations and delved deeper. It was a year where maybe for the first time I realised that I wasn't there in seminary trying to look for God and get closer, but that actually it was God looking for me and wanting to get close to me. He was doing all the work; I was merely responding. And that is probably the story of the whole Bible: God looking for us.

As you all know, I do enjoy writing these daily art reflections. They help me, they mould me, as God continues to shape me. So I thank you for reading them. If you read the reflections on our website (rather than solely on email), you may notice that many of you join in commenting every day on the artwork and reflections. Thank you for your contributions.

At times my prayer life in seminary can be a little dry, or the days can seem repetitive. Every day has moments of speaking and listening, occasions of eating and drinking… but what is permanently there is the 'seeing'. When we wake up, we constantly see the world around us, even when we close our eyes we still see, we dream images… the visual is what is permanently there. That is why it is important to 'see' good things and to look at beauty. Art can truly help with this. Just as we are responsible for what we eat every day, we are also responsible for what we see every day. And, yes, we can get bombarded by images through the media and on our streets, but we can make choices for what we see and watch. I hope that by providing these daily reflections, I can provide you for a few minutes every day with a touch of Beauty using art. I believe these glimpses of Beauty can draw us closer to God. This Beauty through the arts can truly function as a gate of the visible to draw us into the mystery of the invisible!

So, for today I simply want to share a painting which may remind you of holidays past, like it reminds me of these past three months of my holidays. The sailing boat off the coast of New England, painted by Edward Hopper in 1935 depicts a hot blue Summer's day, with the sun beating down on the blanched sand and a gentle breeze catching the sails of the boat. The boat lighthouse and the boat are rendered in typical solitary style as characteristic for Hopper.

Thank you for all your love and support. Please keep all seminarians throughout the world in your prayers.

Onwards we go, united in prayer,

Patrick

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/938
Christian Art - www.christian.art/