Where to Look When Tempted to Give Up
The Transfiguration by Raphael seen as the artist's best was also his last.
In his final delirium, he asked to see the painting.
It was brought to him and was placed on his bed.
Raphael never again, touched a brush.
On his 37th birthday, without finishing the work he died on a Good Friday.
The masterpiece, which combines two incidents in Jesus' life, gives a unique lesson.
The other event Raphael combines with the Transfiguration is the healing of the lunatic boy, which follows Jesus' descent from Mt.
Tabor in the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 17: 14-21).
In the upper part of the canvas we see Jesus bathed in light and in the lower part is the lunatic stretched out.
The artist who summoned up all his powers in painting the brilliant countenance of Christ presents the sick boy's flesh very pale with in a contorted, dark and chaotic scene.
Looking upward Jesus was borne aloft between Moses and Elijah, while Peter, James and John, prostrate contemplate this glimpse of paradise.
The Apostles who had such a wonderful experience failed in attempting to free the possessed boy.
But they did not give up.
They were ready to wait until the arrival of the recently transfigured Christ to whom one of the apostles points, which joins the two scenes in the painting.
The Transfiguration occurred six days after Jesus predicted his death (Mt 16:21-23).
Jesus could have avoided death on the cross by changing his plans or by dancing to the popular tunes.
Faced with conflicts all around, he took the situation to his Father in prayer, where a preview of the Resurrection was given in the shining of the body of Jesus.
Peter, James and John were also the three disciples with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.
Moses who led the tedious journey of Israelites to freedom and received the Ten Commandments on Mt.
Sinai had never entered the Promised Land; this was his first opportunity to be seen there.
Elijah, seeking a revelation, walked to the same mountain, where God spoke to him in a tiny whisper; the prophet is now seen in glory.
Peter immediately said 'it is good to be here'.
The seventh day, for the Jews is the day of rest.
The lesson is that God's answer will come; we need to look up to Him.
Looking sideward For 26 years Pope John Paul II carried the cross on the Good Friday procession through the Coliseum.
When he became very ill and he could not carry the processional cross Archbishop Flynn pointed out that the Pope was carrying a heavier cross.
The world watched the great pope live out his conviction that shaped his entire life starting inside the Iron Curtain that the light of Easter is always preceded by the darkness of Good Friday.
He looked up to God as his source of strength.
Instead of looking upward to God many these days look up to the promptings of our culture.
The result is as George Carlin pointed out, we buy more but enjoy less, have bigger houses and smaller families.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a neighbor.
We conquered outer space, but not inner space.
We are bigger in proportions and small characters.
While facing dilemmas do you look up to God or to the world?
In his final delirium, he asked to see the painting.
It was brought to him and was placed on his bed.
Raphael never again, touched a brush.
On his 37th birthday, without finishing the work he died on a Good Friday.
The masterpiece, which combines two incidents in Jesus' life, gives a unique lesson.
The other event Raphael combines with the Transfiguration is the healing of the lunatic boy, which follows Jesus' descent from Mt.
Tabor in the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 17: 14-21).
In the upper part of the canvas we see Jesus bathed in light and in the lower part is the lunatic stretched out.
The artist who summoned up all his powers in painting the brilliant countenance of Christ presents the sick boy's flesh very pale with in a contorted, dark and chaotic scene.
Looking upward Jesus was borne aloft between Moses and Elijah, while Peter, James and John, prostrate contemplate this glimpse of paradise.
The Apostles who had such a wonderful experience failed in attempting to free the possessed boy.
But they did not give up.
They were ready to wait until the arrival of the recently transfigured Christ to whom one of the apostles points, which joins the two scenes in the painting.
The Transfiguration occurred six days after Jesus predicted his death (Mt 16:21-23).
Jesus could have avoided death on the cross by changing his plans or by dancing to the popular tunes.
Faced with conflicts all around, he took the situation to his Father in prayer, where a preview of the Resurrection was given in the shining of the body of Jesus.
Peter, James and John were also the three disciples with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.
Moses who led the tedious journey of Israelites to freedom and received the Ten Commandments on Mt.
Sinai had never entered the Promised Land; this was his first opportunity to be seen there.
Elijah, seeking a revelation, walked to the same mountain, where God spoke to him in a tiny whisper; the prophet is now seen in glory.
Peter immediately said 'it is good to be here'.
The seventh day, for the Jews is the day of rest.
The lesson is that God's answer will come; we need to look up to Him.
Looking sideward For 26 years Pope John Paul II carried the cross on the Good Friday procession through the Coliseum.
When he became very ill and he could not carry the processional cross Archbishop Flynn pointed out that the Pope was carrying a heavier cross.
The world watched the great pope live out his conviction that shaped his entire life starting inside the Iron Curtain that the light of Easter is always preceded by the darkness of Good Friday.
He looked up to God as his source of strength.
Instead of looking upward to God many these days look up to the promptings of our culture.
The result is as George Carlin pointed out, we buy more but enjoy less, have bigger houses and smaller families.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a neighbor.
We conquered outer space, but not inner space.
We are bigger in proportions and small characters.
While facing dilemmas do you look up to God or to the world?
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