Tag Archives: St. Thomas More

Mission at St. Thomas More: Wednesday Evening

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Jesus is our Teacher and Lord. He is not just a human teacher who tells us how to live in this world. He also points to a world to come, the home to which he calls us.  He goes before “to prepare a place” for us.” Risen from the dead, he is “the first fruits;” we still await the harvest.

 

The apostle Thomas, whom Rembrandt (below) pictures acknowledging Jesus as “My Lord and my God,” represents doubting humanity called to believe. Mary Magdalen too represents our weak humanity wishing to cling to the human Jesus.

Besides our Teacher, Jesus is Lord of Creation. This aspect of the mystery of the Resurrection has been influenced by the thinking of the Enlightenment, according to Anglican Bishop W.T. Wright, who recently addressed the Italian Catholic Bishops.

I’ll be speaking tonight of the role of Jesus as Lord of Creation.

You can read what Bishop Wright said here.

Mission at St. Thomas More: Tuesday Evening

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Tuesday evening at our mission in St. Thomas More Parish, Sarasota, Florida, we’re going to reflect on the Passion of Jesus Christ. Those who can’t attend our service at 7 PM (and maybe some who attended too) may find this great presentation by Rembrandt something to study. He’s a great visual teacher of scripture.

 

Here’s some thoughts on it:

Rembrandt’s Crucifixion.

Light from above falls on this dreadful scene, falling first on Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the World, even in this dark hour.

The same light bathes those on his left (Is it because blood and water from his pierced heart flows on them?). The thief, his face turned already toward Paradise, has a place among those who followed Jesus from Galilee. Some of them sit on the ground overwhelmed by it all; some comfort Mary his mother; some stand looking on. Mary Magdalene comes close to kiss his nailed feet.

The centurion kneels before Jesus and cries out his confession of faith, “Yes, this is the Son of God.” But his soldiers look ready to leave their grim duty for the barracks and dinner.

On the left, Jesus’ enemies are heading home too, into the darkness. The other thief’s face is turned to them, as if he wished he could go with them, away from this place.

But I notice some light seems to reach out to them too. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”