Author Archives: charlotteatsynod

The Risen Christ and Mary Magdalene, Tapestry in Lillington Parish Church, Warwickshire For nearly a decade, as the Vicar of Lillington, I had the privilege of saying Morning Prayer each day whilst gazing on this beautiful tapestry. It’s full of gorgeous detail, every bit familiar to me. But what I always come back to is Mary,Continue reading “Lent, Day 16 (Saturday)”

The Yellow Christ, by Paul Gauguin, 1889 This painting by Paul Gauguin shows the crucifixion of Jesus Christ taking place in 19th-century northern France as Breton women are gathered in prayer.  Gauguin said he chose yellow to convey how he felt about the isolated life and piety of the peasants, pictured here dressed in their distinctive regional costume andContinue reading “Lent, Day 15 (Friday)”

Abstract Jesus, artist unknown This image is a riot of colour and spattered paint. For me this seems to capture something of the noise and chaos of our world. We will all have known times when we have felt almost overwhelmed by endless tasks to be done, other people’s expectations, the burden of responsibilities. YetContinue reading “Lent, Day 14 (Thursday)”

Christ walks on the sea, Henry wolf, 1899 The night has been long. The boat has been battered by the storm. The disciples are exhausted. Then, out of the gloom, a figure appears. The disciples are terrified. The figure speaks. ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ It is Jesus. In this image, theContinue reading “Lent, Day 13 (Wednesday)”

The Saviour of the world, El Greco, c 1600 This image of Jesus shows Christ as the Saviour of the World. His left hand rests gently on a globe, a symbol of the world he has come to save. His right hand is raised in a pose of blessing. Our world is in need ofContinue reading “Lent, Day 12 (Tuesday)”

St Mary with her Beloved Son, Ethiopian Orthodox, c 1800 This image is packed full of detail. The more you look the more you see. Jesus’s feet peeping out from under his gown, the star on Mary’s gown, her wonderful eyelashes. There are also the classic symbols of iconography. Jesus holds a New Testament in his leftContinue reading “Lent, Day 11 (Monday)”

The miraculous catch of fish, Jan Toorop, 1910 I adore this picture. It’s so full of life and movement and energy. It’s as if the risen Christ, the disciples and even the fish are dancing. By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,    O God of our salvation;you are the hope of all the ends of theContinue reading “Lent, Day 10 (Saturday)”

Christ Crowned with Thorns, Hans Breinlinger, 1936 It seems to me that in this image, behind Christ’s head, there is a rainbow. The rainbow, a symbol of God’s covenant with creation, God’s promise that however bad things get, however we behave, he will never again destroy the earth. God said, ‘I have set my bowContinue reading “Lent, Day 9 (Friday)”

Korean Jesus (Photorealistic illustration generated with AI by Joshua) Should we try and portray Jesus as he really looked, or as a reflection of how we look? Historically, the western world has done the latter, often portraying Jesus as blond and blue eyed, and when that (or any) portrayal is dominant, or considered ‘normal’ byContinue reading “Lent, Day 8 (Thursday)”

Head of Christ, Rembrandt, c. 1648 It is assumed that this picture was painted using a Jewish model, maybe in an attempt to create an image of what the human Jesus might actually have looked like. Of course, beyond the general characteristics of those living in the middle east at the time, we cannot knowContinue reading “Lent, Day 7 (Wednesday)”