“We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of
mercy.” – Pope Francis
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2015,
marked the beginning of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Mercy is, in Pope Francis's words, “the beating heart of the Gospel.”
This year provides us the opportunity to pay attention to God’s mercy,
to live out spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and to recognize the need
for mercy in our own lives.
The year of
Mercy will culminate on the Solemnity of Christ the King on November 20, 2016. As
Pope Francis reminds us, “the mercy of God is never something abstract, but
rather, something concrete.” Here is my attempt to make concrete what can be abstract.
My hope is that, in viewing these images, you might find a moment to realize
God’s great mercy for you.
Baptism
watercolor, 18x24’’
“But when the kindness and generous
love of God our Savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done
but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal
by the holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our Savior,
so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal
life.”
Titus 3:4
The Beatitudes
watercolor, 18x24’’
If the Ten Commandments are law, then the Beatitudes are love. In a real sense, the Beatitudes build upon
the Ten Commandments. Far from love
contradicting law, love is in fact the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10).
Tendrils spread and flourish when they are allowed to grip into a foundation. From the outline of two stone tablets sprout eight
morning glories.
“His mercies never come to an end…they are new
every morning”
- Lamentations
2:22-23
Corporal Works
of Mercy
watercolor, 18x24’’
Mercy: Through our unique
hands, dispersed in
a thousand unpredictable ways.
Justice & Mercy
watercolor, 18x24’’
Justice and mercy…are not two contradictory realities, but two
dimensions of a single reality that unfolds progressively until it culminates
in the fullness of love. Justice is a
fundamental concept for civil society, which is meant to be governed by the
rule of law. Justice is also understood
as that which is rightly due to each individual… [Yet,] if God limited himself
to only justice, he would cease to be God, and would instead be like human
beings who ask merely that the law be respected. God does not deny justice. He rather envelops
it and surpasses it with an even greater event in which we experience love as
the foundation of true justice.
Misericordiae Vultus, Bull of
Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy
Mother of Mercy
watercolor, 18x24’’
watercolor, 18x24’’
The Hebrew word
for mercy, rahamim, comes from rechem,
a mother’s womb.
Rahamim refers to the feeling of a
mother
for the child in her womb. God’s mercy must have something
of a maternal warmth about
it—unconditional, intimate and
nurturing. A pregnant Mary knows she cannot hold Mercy
inside forever.
Flush
Colored
pencil, ink, and watercolor 18x24’’
In
2010, Asia Bibi, mother of five, became the first Pakistani woman condemned to
death for blasphemy following an incident drawing water from a well used by Muslims. Her death sentence continues to be suspended
as of 2016. According to the International Society for Human Rights, 80% of violations of
religious freedom in the world today are directed against Christians, many of whom live amidst hostile
majorities (John Allen, Global War on
Christians).
The woman in this portrait, worlds away from
Asia Bibi, nonetheless faintly bears the
Nazarene symbol on her neck. “Nasrani” (Nazarene) is the symbol ISIS has
used to mark Christian homes and
businesses, which others have adopted as a sign of solidarity.
Flushing is
an automatic response of the sympathetic nervous system. When the body experiences exertion, it
radiates heat outward. Flushing is a
sudden increase or expansion. It is a sign of love.
...
These have been my primary projects this past year! I have never done an artwork series that has spanned so much time focused on one theme. Luckily, the theme of mercy proved pretty expansive! I've enjoyed collaborating with other local artists for a display at our local Cathedral. If you missed it, check out St. Mary's ArtWorks of Mercy exhibit in October! I will display some of these there, along with many other artists and students from the St. Mary's community.
Art is for sale, with a recommended donation of $200 to Catholic Relief Services. If you purchase the piece through the St. Mary's event, 50% of proceeds will be given to "Art for the Journey," a local non-profit supporting art in the community.
