| |
 |
The Art of Blasphemy,
By Frank Martin (1888-1966),
Black and white photograph,
Photographed in 1958
© Christian Art |
| The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?" The Jews answered, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God." Jesus answered, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, you are gods'? If those to whom the word of God came were called 'gods' - and the scripture cannot be annulled - can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, 'I am God's Son'? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, "John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true." And many believed in him there. |
|
|
| | Reflection on the Photograph
In today’s reading the Jewish people are accusing Jesus of blasphemy. So what is blasphemy? Blasphemy is speaking against God in a contemptuous, scornful, or abusive manner, and as such is a grave violation of charity towards God. It also applies to art. Some art can be seen as blasphemous. I won’t show any examples of this here, but I am sure over the years we have all seen images which we had issues with or even found downright shocking. There was a moment in our Christian history when it looked like Christian images might get banned altogether. In the 8th century an iconoclast movement was thriving. They relied on Old Testament texts where it says we should have no graven images of God. Fair enough. However, St John of Damascus (died 749AD) looked closely at a decision that needed to be taken by our Church as regards to the use of images. He came to the conclusion for images and art to be used. His logic was that St Paul refers to Jesus as the 'icon' of the invisible God. Is God invisible? Yes. Is he beyond any representation? Yes of course. However, God Himself has made an icon, a picture, an image in the humanity of Jesus… so if it is good enough for God, it is good enough for us. Our icons, our art, our depictions of Christ, saints, etc., are participations in the primordial iconography of God himself. So thanks to St John of Damascus we can enjoy all the magnificent art in our churches and richly textured Christian Art history.
The Jews in our reading of today, couldn’t grasp who Jesus was. How could a human being make himself out to be God? And Jesus saying that He was, made him blasphemous in their eyes. The Art Of Blasphemy is a photograph by Frank Martin taken in July 1958: Visitors evaluate a painting at an exhibition of modern art, organised by the Contemporary Art Society on the theme of religion, at the Tate Gallery, London. The painting is titled 'Gabriel And Mary' by Bateson Mason, and was considered blasphemous at the time…
by Patrick van der Vorst
|  | |
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment