A few weeks ago,
my wife and I made it to the Allentown Art Museum just before the closing of
the exhibit “Of Heaven and Earth,” featuring Italian works from the 15th
to 19th century. A friendly docent, who just happens to be a member
of the Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, shared that because the Roman
Catholic Church funded most of art in that timeframe, the majority were
religious in nature. And they were stunning: a beaming Annunciation, 3-D
brocade on the magi, wide-angled views of Jesus at the Jordan.
But as is true of
much of life, a great deal was gained by something other than what we went
there for. Unbeknownst to us, there was an exhibition featuring the artist
Francisco Goya (1746-1828), someone whose name I knew more than his art. If the
museum didn’t tell me that these were among the most important pieces of
western art, I never would have guessed.
Caprichos,
completed in 1799, is a series of prints with short captions, poking at
well-established institutions such as government, church, and cultural morés.
Everything was fair game, nothing was given the “wink, wink” and then ignored.
Apparently this was the first time anyone had used art to publicly critique in
this way, a breakthrough.
In themselves the prints were interesting. But what
fascinated me was how subsequent artists were included, using the same image
and caption but making minor variations. The same observations, the same
prophetic wit, but instead of the 18th century soldier these were
obviously Americans in current Mideast action. The jibes at church and state
were still as painfully relevant now as they were at its creation.
On the other hand, however, this felt like one more
invitation for the church, whether congregation, presbytery, or denomination,
to live eternal truths from God’s Word to God’s World.
Just as Goya’s reflections became our own, how can we
live God’s promise — the today as much as someday? Seeing others live out the
injunction to feed the poor and hungry, and then we see how the Presbytery’s
efforts at SHARE propose to do just that. Having Jesus commission us to share
the good news and make disciples, and knowing how many congregations are
involved locally and internationally doing just that. Watching Paul call
established churches into the support and creation of newer communities, and
wondering how we as a Presbytery can do just that.
The biblical words that caption our lives — as
individuals and congregations and more — are old words, but they are living
words, that by the Spirit can breathe new life into us. It may not always be
what we imagined or thought would happen, but if it is of God, it is by
definition good.
God is all in all,
Steve
