Our Life with Jesus 20-21

 

  Here are a number of imaginative representations of the Nativity, representing Jesus' birth, from different places and cultures.  A few are traditional, others more contemporary.  Which ones do you like?  Do any stoke your imagination?

    Take time to read two important Advent texts:  Luke 1:26-38 and Matthew 1:18-25.  The first is the story of the angel Gabriel's visit to the startled Mary of Nazareth; the second is of the angelic visit to the frightened Joseph in a dream.  The artwork above conveys imagination about these scenes.  The first depicts (likely) teenage Mary as someone of high school age.  It is meant to convey the disruptive, shocking nature of this hopeful event.   In your discussions of Mary in Christian Nurture, have you thought about her this way?  Chinese-American artist He Qi's rendering of the Annunciation feels more intimate and personal.  The next two are from classic Italian painters, Caravaggio (16th-17th century) and Da Vinci (15th-16 century).  The last one (artist unknown) pictures the hovering angel speaking to  the fitfully sleeping Joseph in a dream, telling him not to fear. After reading the stories, what are some of your thoughts and impressions?  Can we get in touch with th

  "When Jesus saw their faith . . ."--Mark 2:5 Before we delve into Advent, I want to spend some time with what would have been our lesson for November 25th.  The story of Jesus and the paralyzed man in Mark Chapter 2 (vv. 1-12) is a powerful one.  Jesus is in Capernaum, the fishing town at the north end of the Sea of Galilee that is home base for him.  When people learn that he is at home, they flock to the house and fill it to the point overflowing. Jesus is teaching those in the house when a "paralyzed man" is brought to him, carried by four people.  Because of the crowd, the four are unable to bring him directly to Jesus.  Instead of becoming discouraged, or coming back another time, they climb up on the roof of the house, lift up their friend, and "remove the roof."  They then lower him down to Jesus!  The artwork accompanying this post depicts the four having removed planks and setting their friend down through the opening to a place directly in fron