Date: 2009-10-05 18:32:42
Apparently it was quite common in the Middle Ages in Europe to see depictions of Jesus on the cross surrounded by four angels, each holding a chalice to catch the blood that poured from his wounds. I saw such a depiction recently in a very old church in a little place called Bosau in northern Germany – not painted but sculpted, the figures carved in intricate detail out of wood. The cross hangs heavily in front of the altar. You may wonder how on earth they could depict the blood flowing from the wounds. A simple curved iron rod was the answer in each of the four cases, linking the wounds in each hand, feet and side with the respective chalices. (Click here to view some small images of the cross and one of the angels.)
At first I found the depiction uncomfortable. If I worshipped in that church, would I want to see that every week? The explicitness of the depiction, the naïvely literal portrayal of the blood, disturbed me. They were from another time and culture. Yet for the people of the late Gothic era in which this work was created, images like this one were powerful. It helped them to see that their liturgical reality of the eucharist was connected in a direct way to the suffering and death of Jesus, his lifeblood poured out for them. The angels represent the four directions, east, west, north and south, encompassing the whole earth.
This work is meant to be a “Triumphkreuz”, a cross celebrating the triumph of life over death. The artisan who carved it made this perfectly clear, not only in the connection to the Body of Christ gathering faithfully, as they still do today, to remember Jesus’ death. The resurrection is also visible, new life growing out of the old dried wood of the cross – thirty-six young green leaves pushing through the hard surface to twist and turn towards the sun. Thirty-six, three times twelve, the number of eternity.
The memory of this work goes with me now, the uncomfortable reminder that innocent blood is being poured out daily on this earth, and the assurance that Jesus’ suffering takes up all this suffering, all of our suffering, and makes it his. In the chalice I see that it was for us, an ever-present reality, much more lasting than the iron rods. I see the shoots of new life determinedly pushing past the dead wood – our dead wood.
May you too this week discover images of this reality that will bring it home to you every day – in nature, in the celebration of communion/the eucharist, in the Christ-life we see in each other.
Glenine Hamlyn
You can respond to the tragedies in the Philippines, Samoa and Indonesia: support the appeals of act for peace (the aid agency of the NCCA).
“Man’s sins” – neglect, opportunism, laziness and lack of vision – have contributed to the floods, say church leaders. Drains were clogged with garbage.
An interfaith presence was warmly welcomed at the 2009 Eidfest in Brisbane, and the members of the Qld Forum for Christians, Jews and Muslims came away enriched.
By QCT Friday, 02 October 2009
Take a look at the Links page on this website – it has been updated and contains a wealth of information. If you have further links you would like to suggest, please email the general secretary (Glenine) on: gensec@qct.org.au.
Now a part of the annual Brisbane Festival, Art from the Margins showcases works of art created by Brisbane’s homeless and those living with disadvantage or disability. You can still see these in Inala until 11 October.
This year on Thursday 19 November (not 12 November as we erroneously told you last week) – a wonderful night of music, making new friends and sharing great food.
Read this reflection on the health of the ecumenical movement, starting from a point of celebration: the tenth anniversary of the Joint Declaration on Justification.
In Hispanic churches in the US, the culture of ‘machismo’ oppresses women – yet a new understanding of partnership is starting to emerge.
Some dialogues have been going on quietly for many years – this one since 1973. It is focusing on “the Christian understanding of the human person”.
The South African Council of Churches (SACC), once heavily involved in the anti-apartheid struggle, is now struggling with the ANC.
