“Mass Processional” by Jen Norton. 24 x30″ Acrylic on Canvas, $3600
I painted this piece a few months ago, but hadn’t posted it yet. Now, in light of recent events in our country and across the western world, I have cause to reconsider it with fresh perspective. When we Catholics make the sign of the cross, we are affirming that we will go about our work “in the name of” the holy Trinity…Father, Son, Holy Spirit. But do we really?
The father has the power and authority to create life, all life of every color. Oh, how we love to control that one, deciding who deserves life and who doesn’t, who is more or less worthy. Society has so often “missed the mark” as St. Julian of Norwich says. So the father sent his Son, made human like the rest of creation, yet also fully divine and able to do God’s will in every circumstance. His one job was to show us what it looked like to “love as the Father has loved us” and surrender everything else. He literally gave his life, “thirsting” for our souls to follow him in this mission. And if we do, we are graced with the Holy Spirit, the spirit of wisdom and will. Our reward is everlasting life.
With the latest killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Amaud Arbery, I am again horrified that the spark of divinity in some people is crushed simply because of skin color. And if their light can be extinguished so brutally, my light becomes less bright too. And so does yours. We are all made less with hate and violence. If we do not see the very body of Christ suffering in racial injustice, none of us is worthy of reconciliation to Him. None of us is worthy of the promises of Christ.
If we do not see the very body of Christ suffering in racial injustice, none of us is worthy of reconciliation to Him. None of us is worthy of the promises of Christ.
Conversely, if we really honor the Father, all the other commandments fall into place. Not killing, not pillaging the environment, not living with sin seems natural when God truly rules our hearts. Privilege is not a privilege if it comes at the cost of the good of our neighbor.
The Catholic mass is meant to be a sanctuary from the evil that swirls outside the church doors. But too often, we leave our holiness in the pews and go about business as usual once outside. Even if we do good works, do we really give all that we have like the poor widow? Are we aware of the pain some of our fellow citizens, particularly those who are black or brown, have lived with for generations? And even if we see the racism in our systems, do we really understand how our (white) silence is violent complicity? I am just beginning to see that more clearly. I thought I knew, but I didn’t really. I am doing my best in these strange times to learn more, think differently and hopefully proceed more equipped to do my work in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
“Processional” original painting is available at The Sacred Art Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ. Contact geri@thesacredartgallery.com.
