Jesus Experienced Visually
By Frances Forde Plude
We continue our reflections on the Jesus who confronts each of us with the question “Who do you say I am?” In our human imagination we have a picture of Jesus; our view is affected by our exposure to certain church interiors, icons, artistic masterpieces and even by films we have seen. In some examples this Jesus is romanticized. In contrast, the suffering Jesus is often stressed in Hispanic culture.
Recently the National Catholic Reporter newspaper invited artists to submit their interpretations of Jesus and the winning selection was a face of Christ that seemed to combine both a historical and a contemporary Jesus. There has been a great deal of activity in the field of theology called Christology. Of wider impact, probably, is the attention given to Jesus in video and film.
All of this, as Suzanne expounds below, defines our spirituality. What is of importance is that, along with the Jesus of history, we interact with, and believe in, the Jesus of faith. And we see this Jesus among us – in individuals and in faith communities. A colleague defines all this as visual piety. David Morgan’s book with this title focuses upon the well-known Warner Sallman head of Christ with long flowing hair; this is present in many Protestant churches. Morgan’s research shows this single image of Christ had a deep impact upon the faith and piety of many U.S. Protestants, although their churches contain few images.
We are people who enjoy taking and sharing photos and we appreciate visual representations of all kinds. Combine the visual with music (as MTV does) and you have a formula that is almost magical in its appeal. The term visual literacy refers to how we read today’s visual culture and we cannot help but be visually literate as we relate to the Jesus of our faith.
Today we are besieged by a wider variety of visuals than in past times primarily because media (including advertising media) have realized the impact of the visual image. Now most of the visual messages have motion within them making them even more attractive. It seems ironic that just as the culture increases its appetite for the visual, our church spaces and our worship have tended to remove many visual images. Perhaps we need to inject visuals into our worship space in ways that reflect the visual piety of our lives.
By Suzanne Nelson
Every person has some type of spirituality, some way of seeing beyond the surface of things, connecting to the hidden energy of life. How we do this determines our spirituality. Authentic Christian spirituality is rooted in a personal encounter with the living Jesus. And Catholic Christian spirituality brings Christ into every facet of daily life – nourished by Scripture, personal and liturgical prayer, teaching and preaching, sacramental practice and service. How then is the historical Jesus related to personal spirituality as it is found in parish life?
This past Lent the RCIA team at Blessed Sacrament Parish invited me to join them in guiding a retreat. Father Ray and I pooled our picture files for the event. We both have a collection of pictures of Jesus. Most of them were of the historical Jesus; some were modern or abstract art. All stages of the life of Jesus were depicted. During the retreat we spread the pictures on the table in the center of the circle of participants. Each person chose a picture that best conveyed his or her own relationship with Jesus. They reflected quietly for some time and then shared with the group their answers to two questions:
What moved you to choose this picture of Jesus?
How do you see this Jesus acting in your life today?
Each person’s sharing was unique. Most chose pictures of the historical Jesus in the setting of best loved bible stories; they stressed their love for Jesus’ qualities of mercy and forgiveness, his love for children and the sick, or his suffering for our sins. A few chose more recent artistic images of Jesus portraying him as a member of another culture, or no specific culture at all. One or two people chose pictures depicting the infancy or the childhood of Jesus.
Perhaps it is one of the central miracles of Christianity that people in general do not find it a big jump from the Jesus of history to the Jesus of faith acting in their lives. The retreatants shared how they ‘see’ Jesus in the Christian community, in the way their ministers, sponsors and catechists treat them. They see him in people they work with, and in their spouses and children. They see him in times of suffering and turmoil and in moments of decision. As stories were shared to illustrate encounters with the Jesus of faith there was a reverent stillness in the room. I sensed that Jesus was in the midst of us.
In the days following the first Easter, Christians recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, in reconciliation, in breakfast on the beach, and in many other situations. They recognized him as the Jesus they had known but the experience was different. He had the scars of suffering, yet he was at peace. He was still present in their lives, yet they knew he was not for them alone. He was there with them, yet they could not cling to him. Gradually they began to recognize him in one another, in their common worship and, in some special way, in the poor.
Christians today also see Jesus in their midst. And very often it is their local faith community that helps them to do this.
What characteristics and values of Jesus are most visible in your local church? How does your worship communicate the fact that Jesus, the Christ, is here for all people? How do the artistic images of Jesus in your parish buildings help others to see Jesus present in the community? How does Jesus the Christ encounter our media culture through your local church? How is your faith community living a reason for hope to the people in your area?
Church leaders make it easier for people to see the Jesus of faith and connect to the energy of his goodness. How is your church an evangelizing community?