A Lesson from DaVinci

This coming Good Friday my congregation will be presenting a dramatization of Leonardo DaVinci’s famous painting, of the Last Supper. It is a series of costumed monologues, interspersed with music, and all against a projection of the painting in the background.  I've been cast as Judas.  Go wonder!

A story is told about DaVinci and that painting that illustrates how forgiveness works. The great artist had a falling out with a man and decides to exact revenge by depicting Judas with his enemy’s face. After he painted Judas, he went on to paint the face of Christ. But try as he might, he just couldn’t come up with the image he needed. And in the midst of this great mural Jesus’ face was blank. 

Shortly after that, though, DaVinci had a change of heart and forgave his enemy. And then he changed the painting so that Judas no longer resembled the man who had hurt him. That night he had a dream, and in that dream, he saw the face of Christ. He painted it the very next day. Only when he had forgiven his enemy, was he himself able to see the loving, forgiving face of Christ.

As we move through these final days of Lent, as we prepare for the joy of Easter, let us not take shortcuts.  Rather, let us be as willing to forgive and to be forgiven as DaVinci.  Let us clear our hearts and minds for an infilling of the Spirit which brings all things to life!

Have a meaningful Holy Weeks, and a Blessed Easter!

(And, if you are in Southwest Florida the presentation is Friday, April 15 at 7:30 PM.  The church is located at 2050 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel.)