John 6:44-51 | Louis Louro | I am the living bread that came down from heaven

John 6:44-51   I am the living bread that came down from heaven

Hands forming a Cross, Image by Louis Louro (born 1965), Digital Photograph, Created in 2016 © Louis Louro Artist Jesus said, 'No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.'   READ MORE     Reflection on the Digital photograph The photograph I am showing you was sent to me a few weeks ago on WhatsApp by a friend. It stayed with me. I didn’t know who the artist was. I then started researching to find out who it was: Louis Louro, a Portuguese photographer. A lot of these types of images float about on social media and via our phones. Sometimes very clever compositions such as is the case here. They float on our screens without us knowing exactly who created these images. We all have become great consumers of images. Every day. We could say that the wide dispersion of these images is groundbreaking and giving young artists unique opportunities to reach audiences they previously had to find through art galleries. This great democratisation of the arts is to be applauded. However, the relationship between art and social media is a tricky one. Art is all about pushing boundaries, but often appealing to a small, sometimes elite audiences; in social media it is the opposite, catering for a very wide audience, but pushing the boundaries of art literally into a square box (such as on Instagram)… The image today and the Gospel today show us great simplicity and clarity. The simplicity of the photograph and the clarity of the Gospel: ‘I am the living bread that came down from heaven’… images and Gospel here literally going 'hand in hand'.… by Patrick van der Vorst

REPORT NG RAPPLER UKOL SA DASMARINAS VILLAGE DI MAKATARUNGAN at KULANG - Atty Trixie

Matthew 11:25-30 | Joseph Wright of Derby | You have hidden these things from the wise

Matthew 11:25-30   You have hidden these things from the wise

A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery, Painted by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734–1797), Painted in 1766, Oil on canvas © Derby Museum of Art, Derby, England Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’   READ MORE     Reflection on the Illuminated Manuscript The reading today is one that has often somewhat puzzled me. Jesus prays to His father and says: ‘I bless you, Father, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children’. At first glance we may think that Jesus is thanking His Father because he hid the Gospel from the wise and intelligent, but revealed it instead to uneducated fishermen like Peter. Does this therefore mean that it is wrong to be intellectual? Does this mean that God does not care for the educated? Of course not. But the problem lays within the attitude we can sometimes display towards the Gospels. Having an overly intellectual or scientific approach to the Christian faith would lead to the danger of for example wanting to prove the existence of God using scientific methods. Or such an approach could trivialise God’s greatest miracles and fail to see the divine nature in them. But science can be used only to explore creation. It cannot explore the Creator. So Jesus presents us with the need for us to have a childlike faith. This isn’t a childish faith, but a childlike faith. A child is completely dependent on adults for safety, love, nurturing, education and knowledge. Similarly, a faithful person depends on God in a way that is absolutely dependent. The painting by Joseph Wright of Derby was painted in 1766, in the midst of the Age of Enlightenment, when science took centre stage and was widely celebrated. It is then that in a way our 21st Century phenomenon of Scientism (excessive belief in the power of scientific knowledge to provide the only genuine knowledge of reality) started. The painting shows a philosopher giving a lecture on the Orrery in which a lamp is put symbolising the Sun, and explaining how the Planets revolve around the sun. Wright's depiction of the wonder produced by scientific research, marked a break with previous painting traditions in which the artistic depiction of such wonder was reserved mainly for religious events. It is a very striking painting though. The single light-source is masterfully lighting the faces. To Wright, the marvels of the scientific age were as awe-inspiring as the subjects of the great religious paintings… But Scripture cannot be approached just with the mind. The word of God also speaks to the heart and only then fully comes to life! by Patrick van der Vorst

"You Can Never Be Lost Where I Cannot Find You"

"You Will Never Be Lost Where I Cannot Find You" April 29, 2020 Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor of the Church  John 6: 35-40 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day." Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe that you are present here and now as I turn to you in prayer. I trust and have confidence in your desire to give me every grace I need to receive today. Thank you for your love, thank you for your immense generosity toward me. I give you my life and my love in return. Petition: Lord, help me to have a deeper confidence and trust in you. An Empty Hole the Size of Christ: “It’s like I had a big hole in my heart, and I couldn’t fill it with anything.” So exclaimed someone who recently came back to the sacraments after being away for many years. She was hungering and thirsting for Christ, and, thankfully, Christ didn’t permit anything else to fill the place in her heart where only he belonged. On re-encountering Christ—in his mercy in confession, in his nourishing grace in communion—she was able to experience the benefits promised by Christ himself: “Anyone who comes to me I will never drive away.” Every one of us invariably finds holes in our hearts, small or not so small. Only Christ belongs there. To welcome Christ back in our hearts, we must seek out his mercy and nourishing grace. Then Why Are You Afraid? If what we need is Christ and what we truly long for is Christ, then what keeps us from going to him? Sometimes it is our pride, or spiritual laziness, or maybe superficiality in our spiritual life. But behind these reasons is often a fear that if we open ourselves to Christ, we will somehow lose out. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI addressed this fear in his first homily as Pope: “Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and He gives you everything. When we give ourselves to Him, we receive a hundred-fold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ - and you will find true life. Amen” (Mass for the Inauguration of the Pontificate, April 24, 2005). Can You Tell Me Where the Lost-and-Found Is? These are words that Christ has never spoken—nor ever will. It is his Father’s will that Christ lose none of those entrusted to him. Christ never fails in his mission. Rather, in today’s reading he promises: “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me but raise it up on the last day.” This is our guarantee that we will never be abandoned and left without his grace to support us. There will be no difficulty, obstacle, or temptation too great for him to help us overcome. Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, I trust in you. Despite the real struggles and obstacles in my path now, I know that you are leading me towards you. You are the only one who can fill the depths of my heart. Somehow, mysteriously, each of these trials is part of making that a reality. Resolution: When faced with any obstacle today—even if it is small—I will say a quick prayer entrusting the situation to Christ. Our Daily Meditation is also available with audio: CLICK HERE TO START LISTENING! FORWARD TO A FRIEND

John 6:30-35 | The Crusader Bible | I am the Bread of Life

John 6:30-35   I am the bread of life

Manna from Heaven, Illuminated illustration in The Crusader Bible, France, Paris, 1240 ink, illumination on vellum © The Morgan Library & Museum, New York The people said to Jesus, ‘What sign will you give to show us that we should believe in you? What work will you do? Our fathers had manna to eat in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ Jesus answered: ‘I tell you most solemnly, it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven, it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true bread; for the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ ‘Sir,’ they said ‘give us that bread always.’ Jesus answered: ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst.’   READ MORE     Reflection on the Illuminated Manuscript The illustration I am sharing with you today is a detail from a manuscript made in France in the 1240s. It is considered to be one of the most magnificent medieval manuscripts, called the 'Crusader Bible'. The miniatures (the small paintings in the Bible) represent one of the greatest visualisations of the Old Testament events ever made. Some of the stories we are all very familiar with (and they jump out immediately when we see the scene depicted), such as is the case with today’s scene of the manna falling from heaven. But other scenes we are far less familiar with. The illustrations are then a real means and tool to delve into the Old Testament and make it joyfully accessible. The incredibly violent battle scenes which are in this manuscript, together with the scenes from everyday life, are all set in 13th-century France and have a poignantly realistic character. As you can see, the scene relevant to today’s reading is in the top right panel of a set of four miniatures illustrated on that page. Jesus in today’s Gospel reading tells us that the bread given by Moses was not yet the true bread from heaven. It came from heaven? Yes. But it was not the full bread of God, because it did not guarantee life to anyone. All of them died in the desert (see a few lines after our reading of today, John 6:49: Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died). The true bread of heaven, the true bread of God, is the one which conquers death and gives life. It is the one which descends from Heaven and gives life to everyone… It is Jesus Himself... by Patrick van der Vorst

Line of Intuition

The shape of the Mercury Line, the Line of Intuition, reveals the nature of a person’s capacity and style for perceiving.

Straight Mercury Lines belong to people who are curious and have keen insights. Curving Mercury Lines, as in Figure 1 below, belong to individuals who are in constant contact, consciously or unconsciously, with the celestial, attuned to messages from the Divine.

Understanding the meaning of life through crisis of meaning

Because this line bows around the Moon mound, you’ll find someone with a natural capacity for diving into crisis of meaning and somehow finding words to make sense of it. On their advanced path, they understand the meaning of life and construct careers as transformational coaches, life purpose consultants, spiritual advisors, life strategists, counselors and ministers.

The owner of a Mercury Line that arcs around the Moon is curious about and considers elements related to dreams, spirituality, the subliminal, unmet emotional needs, and the reality of beliefs. People with Mercury Lines resembling the Figure included in this article have most likely found themselves asking themselves, “What’s the point of living?” and/or “Why are we here?” during times of alienation, stagnation and feeling trapped in the illusion of separation from the self.

While the potential of constant contact with the Divine is very high, equally and opposite is the possibility of not trusting what’s ‘coming in’ and remaining focused entirely on logic instead.

If you have this deeply curving Mercury Line, also known as the Line of Intuition, you most likely understand the feeling of disillusionment and disappointment with life. A sense of despair has led you to ask, “Why?” which is a crucial step toward listening inward for answers. As you stop struggling with the sense of desolation, let go of reason, and accept that you just don’t know why, you find that you surrender to higher intelligence, which then begins to operate through you. You can then allow and trust this special internal mechanism within you that is constantly attuned for deep inner awareness.

Student stories

After teaching about of this type of Mercury Line in my certification program, one student with this configuration confirmed the description saying,

“I worked 14 years in a job where I had little to zero contact with other people. I worked on secret projects and could never talk about my work. I got sick a lot with migraine headaches, felt alone and numbed out. I finally quit that job because I realized life should not be just making money and paying bills. My heart was longing for freedom, freedom for creative expression. I craved deep, meaningful connections with people instead of just working on computers and projects in isolation.”

She has since developed her skills by becoming a Reiki Master /Healer, ThetaHealing® Practitioner, an influential speaker, and intuitive Scientific Hand Analyst and is now working as an inspirational counselor, interpreting the messages marked in the hands to the owners so that they can know why they are here and how to live with meaning in their lives.

After contemplating the interpretation of the Line of Intuition on her hand, another certified hand analyst told me:

“Yes, I do relate to the natural capacity for understanding the meaning in the life crisis -in my own and in other’s, and I have a near compulsion to explain it to a person who’s in the middle of a crisis. I can make sense of things (from an interior perspective), and when a person is asking for my input and is ready to receive it, I can help them make sense of their experiences.

Explaining to someone who isn’t ready to hear it leaves me feeling unseen and misunderstood, and is probably boring or annoying for them. I find that my audience is not always interested, especially not at work so it is a challenge to moderate my natural intuitive communications to fit into the analytical workplace style. I’ve really developed a good practice and the experience to know and trust what’s coming in most of the time, and I can vouch for the experience of constant contact, anytime I put my attention on it, its there. 

However, being immersed in the logic of my technology company workplace is like that unsettled, off balance feeling when you don’t trust your own gut. In the office there are lots of interruptions and I’m surrounded by people all the time. It’s a hectic place and instead of listening to and trusting my intuition, I’m usually just reacting to my environment. With the primary focus on logic for the job it’s hard to go deep and open up to listen and receive.”

Interpreting the symbols of the soul

Medical Intuitive Caroline Myss exemplifies what this marking is about as a translator of meaning through her lectures about the invisible energy system running through our bodies called the chakras. In her book Anatomy of the Spirit she interprets the symbols of the soul in easy to understand lessons.

Myss has become very well known through helping people learn the language of the human energy system so that they can better understand themselves as a way through spiritual challenges. Caroline’s life revolves around deciphering meaning in everything around her. In her case she intuits illness as it relates to energetic power leaks within a person. Does she have this line on either of her hands, or both? I don’t know but I’d like to find out.

Intuition is a skill anyone can develop, and would benefit by doing so.

If you don’t have this line in your hand it doesn’t mean that you’re not intuitive or cannot be intuitive. By having this Line of Intuition there is a higher probability, on the path to mastery, that the challenges will be quite evident.

What I mean by this is that reliance on logic and ignoring the hunches you’re getting will block development. This is simply as a road sign indicator letting you know you’re off track and ‘correction’ is needed. Will you trust what you are sensing from within?

Internal oppositions are expected. Recognize and bring the oppositions together as perfect ingredients for fuller expression of highly attuned perceiving.

Mantra: As I follow and trust myself through my own crisis of meaning I am able to skillfully support others through exploration of the deeper parts of themselves.

Figure 1: Line of Intuition (AKA Line of Clairvoyance)

This article has been edited since it was first posted in Nov. 2016.

https://academyofhandanalysis.org/line-of-intuition/

Intuition Line, Do You Have One?

INTUITION LINE

The Intuition line lies at the side of the hand near the percussion. It rises on Mount of Moon, (lower percussion area) and in a curve, ends on or near the Mount of Mercury (mount beneath the little finger). The distinguishing feature of this line lies in its decided curve. It is a rather uncommon line. I have personally only seen a few in its entirety.

The existence of this line, if well and marked, adds significantly to the intuitive faculties and tends to enhance the Mercurian acuteness. If coupled with long fingers, pointed tips, full Mount of Moon and the head line sloping, the subject will be strongly psychic with visions, and they will be firm advocates in signs and omens. It is also one of the signs of intelligence.

A deeply etched line will give the most considerable amount of intuition. A broken or otherwise defective line (such as islands or crosses on the line) limits its value.

It is not always so large, it can rise from the middle of the Moon mount.

Rising or branching lines from the intuition line 

Rising lines from the intuition line to any of the mounts can give clues to the benefits or downfall effects of it.

• A clear line to Mount Jupiter shows potential success from the ambitious use of their powers.
• A line to the Mount of Apollo is a sign of their fame.
• If the line cuts through the line of Saturn (fate/career line), it can mean that use of the intuitive faculties might negatively influence the career. However, if it merges into the line of Saturn, it helps the career.
• If it is partially mixed up with the line of Mercury, the health or nervous system may be affected by its powers if not used wisely.

Don’t mistake the intuition line for the line of Mercury

The line of Mercury, also called a health line, or line of the liver describes a person’s overall state of health. It usually starts on the Mount of Moon and runs upward towards the Mount of Mercury. It can sometimes look like the intuition line. However, this line mainly in indicates the state of the liver and digestive system. However, because of the qualities of Mercury, it can also depict business success or failure. If the line runs deep onto the Mount of Mercury with rising branches, it shows great success in business.

When this line is not present on the hand, it is that the individual is quite robust and rarely suffers health issues. The best kind of line is a clear, sharp line because it implies someone with a good constitution. If at any time the line appears red, inflamed or otherwise discoloured, it can mean there are toxins or an infection present, and the body is trying to fight it.

https://destinypalmistry.com/do-you-have-an-intuition-line/

John 6:22-29 | Vincent Van Gogh | Work for food that endures to eternal life

John 6:22-29   Work for food that endures to eternal life

Still Life with Bible, painted by Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890), painted in October 1885, Oil on canvas © Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam After Jesus had fed the five thousand, his disciples saw him walking on the water. Next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side saw that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that the disciples had set off by themselves. Other boats, however, had put in from Tiberias, near the place where the bread had been eaten. When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into those boats and crossed to Capernaum to look for Jesus. When they found him on the other side, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered: ‘I tell you most solemnly, you are not looking for me because you have seen the signs but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat. Do not work for food that cannot last, but work for food that endures to eternal life, the kind of food the Son of Man is offering you, for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do if we are to do the works that God wants?’ Jesus gave them this answer, ‘This is working for God: you must believe in the one he has sent.’   READ MORE     Reflection on the Painting This painting is beautiful in its simplicity. Vincent Van Gogh painted this canvas in October 1885. The Bible belonged to his father who was a pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Netherlands. Vincent and his father had a rather turbulent relationship. Six months before this canvas was painted, Vincent’s father died. And so this painting of his father’s Bible became Vincent’s portrait of his father. The Bible represented everything he saw in his father: a man dedicated and devoted to his faith. The Bible lies open at the reading of Isaiah 53 which describes a servant of God as being ‘…despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain…’ Despite Vincent’s ambivalent feelings towards his own father and also towards organised religion, he did always show great respect for Christ himself, both in his painting and in the letters he wrote to his brother Theo. In front of the Bible, we see another book: Emile Zola's La joie de Vivre. Van Gogh was a great admirer of Zola's literary works. Placing Zola’s book in the painting served as a kind of antithesis to his father's Bible. Zola represented a fresh and modern way of perceiving the world realistically, rather than the Bible, which Vincent perceived as being antiquated and looking to the past. The third object we see in our painting is the candlestick with an extinguished candle, which represents his father’s life which had ended six months before. The candle has been out a long time in this painting, no traces of smoke or of its having been lit recently. In today’s Gospel reading, like in most other readings, Jesus is always pushing us to go beyond where we are and to hunger for ‘the food that endures for eternal life'. This food is Scripture, this food is the Bible, just like the one depicted in our painting. God in the Old and New Testaments reveals Himself and shows He is personally involved in the lives of His people… by Patrick van der Vorst

The Sincere Search for Christ

The Sincere Search for Christ April 27, 2020 Monday of the Third Week of Easter John 6: 22-29 After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea. The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal." So, they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent." Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe that you are present here and now as I turn to you in prayer. I trust and have confidence in your desire to give me every grace I need to receive today. Thank you for your love, thank you for your immense generosity toward me. I give you my life and my love in return. Petition: Lord, increase my faith. Food of Eternal Life: Some television evangelists preach a “Gospel of Prosperity,” promising financial and health benefits or general well-being for those who follow Christ in their church. “Good things will come your way!” they say. While these earthly things are good, Christ shows us that his greatest gifts are not the “loaves that fill,” but the grace and eternal life that can be ours through faith. Faith is both our offering to God and his gift to us. It opens our heart to receive the gift that never perishes: eternal life. No Complacency in Faith: Christ didn’t stay with the crowds, but rather he crossed over to Capernaum. The crowds, still full of the bread of the miracle of the loaves, had to figure out where Christ went, get in their boats, and find him. When Christ seems to have moved on us, we need to get into our boat and row—to look for him, to seek him in prayer, to be renewed in his sacraments. He wants us to follow him pro-actively, not passively sitting on the shore with our boat in dry-dock. We need to shove off into the waters of prayer and row. What Must We Do? “This is the work of God….” Our belief (faith) in the one the Father sent is the result of both God’s work in our lives and our work to use and make that gift of faith grow. Above all, faith is God’s gift to us. But it is a gift that grows only when we exercise it, use it, and ask for more. Just as a runner must run more to be a better runner, to believe more we need to believe more. Only then is our heart open to receive the gift of greater faith. Conversation with Christ: Lord, I don’t want to settle for seeking only the “loaves that fill,” but the joy and salvation that comes from believing in you. “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Show me what I must do to follow you. Make your path clear to me and give me the strength to follow it. Resolution: When faced with any difficulty, obstacle, or frustration today, I will exercise my faith in God and seek to do his will. Our Daily Meditation is also available with audio: CLICK HERE TO START LISTENING! FORWARD TO A FRIEND

Luke 24:13-35 | John Piper | Two Disciples on their way to Emmaus

Luke 24:13-35   Two Disciples on their way to Emmaus

Risen Christ at Emmaus, Mosaic composition by John Piper (1903–1992), 18 ft mosaic wall, Executed in 1961 ©  St. Paul's Church, Harlow, Essex, England Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognising him. He said to them, ‘What matters are you discussing as you walk along?’ They stopped short, their faces downcast. Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.’ ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘All about Jesus of Nazareth’ they answered ‘who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.’ Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself. When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. ‘It is nearly evening’ they said ‘and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’ They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, ‘Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.   READ MORE     Reflection on the Mosaic Church Wall Today’s artistic interpretation of the Emmaus theme is quite unique in that it doesn’t immediately convey the story. For anyone viewing the large scale Church mosaic at St. Paul's Church, Harlow, Essex, the abstract nature of Piper’s design means that the Emmaus theme is not immediately apparent. Yet, the key aspect of the Emmaus story is that the Risen Christ is not recognised by the two disciples. Only when the bread is broken, is He recognised, despite walking and talking with the disciples for a good while before. It is the abstract nature of design of our mosaic by John Piper, that conveys exactly this central element of the story: just like the disciples didn’t recognise Christ at first, so do we as viewers not recognise the Emmaus story immediately. The mosaic challenges us to recognise Christ in the unfamiliar. The coloured abstract planes, creating an overall triangular shape, bring life to an otherwise dark wall. The colour, light and brightness of Christ is celebrated. The many small pieces of the mosaic come together to make a beautiful whole. The Gospel reading of today is also about friendship and offers a rich image of prayer. Jesus and His two friends are sharing a meal together and are just talking. In prayer too, we start to talk, we don’t necessarily see or feel God’s presence immediately, but yet we know He is there. Then Christ will come by unobtrusively and share things back to us, talk to us. Friendship follows and grows… The most precious gift this story though is to know that where two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name, there He is in our midst! by Patrick van der Vorst