Sunday 21 June 2009
- Bible Book:
- Mark
"A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!'" (v.37-39)
Background
Narrative paintings can help us to read the Bible in differentways and to hear its message afresh. The above painting by Devonartist Brian Turner is called Calming the Storm.
Jesus stands, sways in the wind, lifts the oar above his head andlooks to the heavens. The disciples are terrified as the boat rocksviolently. They have left the beach - family, homes and businesses- entrusting their destiny to Jesus and now also to the sea. Is itthe storm or Jesus' presence of which they are more afraid?
Links between faith and emotion are rarely discussed in church,theology or philosophy. Perhaps we think that emotions are too farremoved from rational thought to warrant consideration? Perhaps wedismiss them as 'just feelings', or are simply too embarrassed totalk about matters this personal?
In her book, Upheavals of Thought: the intelligence of emotions(Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2001), the philosopherMartha Nussbaum places emotions centre-stage in philosophy andethics. She argues that emotions are a type of rational thought, akind of judgement about the value that things or people have forus. We grieve for the dead because they were important people inour lives. There are reasons for the 'upheavals of thought' weexperience.
In this painting, one senses both the movement of the boat and thestrong emotions of the disciples. The dirty brown sludge, near toJesus' left arm, that the waves and his oar seem to have churnedup, might be symbolic of emotional turmoil. The sludge or mud hascome from the bottom of the lake. This is what Jesus must deal withas the storm stills.
The inset of houses between Jesus' raised arms could be either thefar shore in Galilee or the heavenly city to come. The yellowgarment worn by Jesus is an oilskin but, together with his whiterobe, comprise the liturgical colours that represent his glory.White represents the purity of Jesus and gold is an optional colourfor Easter Sunday, which signifies Christ's kingship.
To Ponder
Brian Turner paints Jesus' presence as much toolarge for the boat. Why do you think he did this?
Between Jesus' arms is a white shape. What do youthink it is? A crumpled sail? A fluted, white angel's wing?Something else?