Thursday, March 6, 2009

Birth of Michaelangelo, on this date, 1475

I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.

- Michaelangelo, born on this day, 1475


This is the work of relationship. The Great Metaphor for it is the Biblical proposition that human beings are ”made in the image of God”. The simple meaning is this: When we encounter one another, our work is to work our way through the inchoate outer surface, using the artist’s tools of Love and Joy, until we uncover the hidden Being in all its beauty and wonder. The “God” we have created is our vision of ourselves: We are beings of Beauty and Wonder to unearth and be unearthed beneath the, alas, hidden barriers we have erected to shield our exquisite vulnerability.

To me, this is the meaning of the figure of Jesus. He is a depiction of the vulnerable human being mistreated by others but embraced and restored by “God”. This is the “True God” that Christians (should) know. This is the “True God” who lies hidden in Scripture waiting to be discovered by those seeking to be fully human.

We live now in a World imbued with Fear. Especially with fear of each other. I don’t know why we have gotten to this point now. Unless the message is for us to learn what we must learn for the human race to move ahead into Life, not Death. It will be our choice – for “God” does not force anything on us. Only we will be responsible for the future.

There is an angel hidden in every lump of humanity. If we desire to be fully human, we must become carvers determined to set each other free.

Brian+