Masks in Classical Greek theatre were quite something. They seem to be intended (we don’t really know) to convey to the theatre goer that this was an alternative reality. The action taking place on the stage, in the theatrical arena, was not real but had the intention of conveying a reality that was being watched in that moment. Masks conveyed characters, male, female, gods and goddesses, good and evil. At the recent Nero exhibition at the British Museum I was intrigued that these two masks were seated alongside an image of Nero. Remember Nero; the bloke who was supposed to have fiddled whilst Rome burned and blamed it on the Christians and began a persecution that in some instances and in some countries is still being carried out today? Nero it turns out was pretty into acting, believed, or shall we say persuaded others to believe that he was in actual fact a god and that ‘you do it my way or die’ was a good rule of thumb? Not first on my list for that idea of ‘who would you like to have dinner with’ icebreaker! I’d much rather have Andrea Mantegna the Renaissance artist or Michele de Montaigne the chap who talked about measuring the nose and how much that was a conversation starter, now he was interesting; artist, architect, musician, writer, philosopher and all round pretty interesting chap. I digress…. Masks are something that we have recently got pretty used to. Not so much the mask that protects others and ourselves, I love the fact that our friends in Japan wear masks as a courtesy to others, just in case they might harbour germs that might make someone else ill, but masks that we hide behind, the invisible ones. The passive face that smiles, whilst inside a tumult of emotions arise, the mouth that smiles but doesn’t quite reach the eyes, the stoney face that hides the shock or disbelief. My friends can read me like a book, I have one of those faces that actually can’t hide a thing. One look and it’s 'What’s up? Go on spill!' I can’t disguise, and it is to be honest usually a giggle, or outright belly laugh, or something fruity! With the masks that we have become accustomed to through the pandemic our eyes have become the litmus paper to gauge what’s going on. Our eyes, our ‘windows to the soul’ are an absolute give away. Rembrandt, one of my favourite artists did eyes very well. He captured a look, a depth that we can only attempt to read. Below is an image representing St Paul, it captures the emotions going on behind the visage...
However in this next image, go direct to the National Gallery website and zoom in on the face of Christ; those eyes...
When we listen to Jesus’ voice in the parables, it is as though His words are reaching into our very hearts. When I think on this I shift from foot to foot as I know if He was looking at me now, His eyes would search mine , and reach to my very core, my soul, my ‘me’ and Jesus would nudge me to keep going, and keep coming back to the the path. His redemption for me and my repentance and need to keep going and keep fixed close to Him is very strong indeed. In Rembrandt's image "the woman taken in adultery' so many eyes are judging, but Jesus, He is looking into the heart of the woman (John 8:1-11) and I wonder how those words at the end of this Parable stuck in the hearts of those who heard? In Lectio 365 or it might have been Pray as you go, the commentator from yesterday quoted Tom Wright had said “God wanted to flood the earth with His love….it is not that God has left us but that we have walked away and He waits for us to return.” We can hide behind as many excuses as we like, or masks and persuade other people that we are fine but God knows us and and sees behind our ill fitting masks! We can’t hide, there is no mask big enough that we can lurk behind, to disguise our feelings and meaning and intentions from ourselves or God. It is after all ‘what’s inside that is critical’. Our heart or our soul if you like is what God is interested in, are our intentions good or not so good?
I looked at Northumbrian Community and the readings today, and was surprised to see the reading from Revelation regarding the Archangel Michael.
“…Revelation 12:7–9 And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him…”
I love this image, especially that St Michael does all this activity without a hair out of place....
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/bartolome-bermejo-saint-michael-triumphs-over-the-devil
The Archangel Michael is a figure that often features in art imagery and across the faiths. Daily we fight our own battles, and God knew a thing or two when he gave us the words to pray in our Lord’s Prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
“But deliver us from evil…” is an extension of that daily need for bread - as humans we need help, every day.
Generally we won’t see angels battling it out on the street, the winged kind, I mean. Every day angels I like to think are the ones disguised as the stranger who helps, who phones us and who would definitely say “I am no angel” but they are God’s hands, feet, voice and hug. We do well to remember that each of us are just that to one another and the friends and strangers we meet, we just have a different face, or wear a different kind of mask to the one we expect - and wings are definitely hidden away.
Celtic Morning Prayers will begin again on 6th September. From now on Monday mornings at 9-9.30am, at St Peters' in the Lady Chapel will be the new time. How lucky we are that we start on a Monday together and have an extra ‘slice of the cake’ by being able to meet virtually at 9am on Friday mornings, I can't physically meet with you on Friday's anymore due to work however on Monday early morning I have a 'window of opportunity'! I shall still be wearing a mask as I still have to take precautions and I know some of you are still vulnerable, like our Japanese friends if you can wear a mask please do so to protect others.
Peace be with you friends <><
Caroline :)
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