Posted on 08/05/2016 7:25:04 AM PDT by Salvation
I have a large icon of Christ in my room (see photo at right). What icons from the Eastern tradition do best is to capture “the look.” No matter where I move in the room, Christ is looking right at me. His look is intense, though not severe. In the Eastern spirituality, icons are windows into Heaven. Hence, this icon is no mere portrait that reminds one of Christ, it is an image that mediates His presence. When I look upon Him, I experience that He knows me. It is a knowing and comprehensive look.
Particularly in Mark’s Gospel, there is great emphasis on the eyes and the look of Jesus. A frequent expression in that Gospel is “And looking at them He said ….” Such a phrase (or a similar one) occurs more than 25 times in Mark’s Gospel.
Looking on Christ and allowing Him to look on you is a powerful moment of conversion. Jesus Himself said, For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jn 6:40).
And the First Letter of John says, What we shall later be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (1 Jn 3:2).
There is just something within us that seeks the face of God and desires that look of love that alone can heal and perfect us. I often think of this verse from Scripture when I am at Eucharistic Adoration: Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice. (Song 2:9). Yes, I long to see the Lord. Scripture also speaks of His longing to “see” us.
Here are some passages from Scripture that remind us to seek the face of the Lord and to look to Him:
An old song says, “We shall behold Him, Face to face in all of His glory …. The angel will sound, the shout of His coming, And the sleeping shall rise, from their slumbering place. And those remaining shall be changed in a moment. And we shall behold Him, then face to face.”
Allow Christ to look on you.
This video is a wonderful collection of many of the looks of Jesus and the reaction of the people following those looks. Pay special attention. The video also features a lot of “looks” that come from us. Notice how people look upon Jesus and how they react as they do so. Look for the “looks” in this video. The final looks are especially moving.
Monsignor Pope Ping!
“Hence, this icon is no mere portrait that reminds one of Christ, it is an image that mediates His presence.”
...
“Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
But their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.” Psalm 115
Unfortunately, many make the mistake of conjoining "worship" with "veneration", which is where the discussion goes astray.
Iconography is more of an Orthodox practice than a Western one. See here: Icon.
And as an icon is made with prayer (this is vey big with icon-"writers", who fast and pray when they are making them), and perceived in a prayerful gaze, the icon truly "mediates" His presence. Not because it is a magical amulet, but precisely because it is a part of our consciousness of prayer.
In actual reality, He is everywhere. There is so place where He is not.
And as for a devotional gesture: ot is like a husband kissing a photo of his wife who has passed away. It is not that he loves that piece of printed paper, but that the picture "mediates" her presence; his kiss of the picture "mediates" the love in his heart.
Knowing that prayer and the love of God mean a lot to you, this may be of interest to you, too, Boogieman.#6
“And as an icon is made with prayer (this is vey big with icon-”writers”, who fast and pray when they are making them), and perceived in a prayerful gaze, the icon truly “mediates” His presence.”
I side firmly with Tertullian on this. It matters not what they are crafting, or what is in their hearts when they do it:
“But when the devil introduced into the world artificers of statues and of images, and of every kind of likenesses, that former rude business of human disaster attained from idols both a name and a development. Thenceforward every art which in any way produces an idol instantly became a fount of idolatry. For it makes no difference whether a moulder cast, or a carver grave, or an embroiderer weave the idol; because neither is it a question of material, whether an idol be formed of gypsum, or of colors, or of stone, or of bronze, or of silver, or of thread. For since even without an idol idolatry is committed, when the idol is there it makes no difference of what kind it be, of what material, or what shape; lest any should think that only to be held an idol which is consecrated in human shape. To establish this point, the interpretation of the word is requisite. Eidos, in Greek, signifies form; eidolon, derived diminutively from that, by an equivalent process in our language, makes formling. Every form or formling, therefore, claims to be called an idol.” Tertullian, “On Idolatry”, Chapter 3
Tertullian also addressed the complaints of artisans who had formerly crafted idols but had now joined the church, and were pleading that they couldn’t abandon their livelihood. He could have easily advised them to start making images and icons of a Christian nature to sell instead, but no, he did NOT give them that advice:
“In vain do we flatter ourselves as to the necessities of human maintenance, if— after faith sealed — we say, “I have no means to live?” For here I will now answer more fully that abrupt proposition. It is advanced too late. For after the similitude of that most prudent builder, who first computes the costs of the work, together with his own means, lest, when he has begun, he afterwards blush to find himself spent, deliberation should have been made before. But even now you have the Lord’s sayings, as examples taking away from you all excuse. For what is it you say? “I shall be in need.” But the Lord calls the needy “happy.” Luke 6:20 “I shall have no food.” But “think not,” says He, “about food;” and as an example of clothing we have the lilies. “My work was my subsistence.” Nay, but “all things are to be sold, and divided to the needy.” “But provision must be made for children and posterity.” “None, putting his hand on the plough, and looking back, is fit” for work. “But I was under contract.” “None can serve two lords.” If you wish to be the Lord’s disciple, it is necessary you “take your cross, and follow the Lord:” your cross; that is, your own straits and tortures, or your body only, which is after the manner of a cross. Parents, wives, children, will have to be left behind, for God’s sake. Do you hesitate about arts, and trades, and about professions likewise, for the sake of children and parents?” Tertullian, “On Idolatry”, Chapter 12
If it was proper for artisans to start making Christian icons instead, I’m sure Tertullian would have given them that advise instead of telling them to take up their cross and bear it for God’s sake.
The good news is, we have no need of icons to mediate for us:
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 1 Timothy 2:5
Do you go to movies about Christ?
If you do, then your posts discredit your notions.
“Do you go to movies about Christ?”
Nah, the Bible is good enough for me.
Same argument they make about Mary and it is the reason we’re not to have “icons”.
Catholic logic on display again!
First century synagogues had frescoes depicting both people and animals. The early churches often had similar paintings. Iconoclasm didn't come into vogue until the rise of the Muslims, I believe.
You didn’t deal at all with the central reality, which is that God is everywhere, present in every place. -— except it is we ourselves who are not “present” to Him because our”whole hearts” and “whole minds” are not open to Him.
The function of sacred art is not to “make God come to us” like some conjuring charm, but to open our eyes, hearts, minds, to Him.
In this sense an icon can mediate His presence just as a Bible can, or a good sermon, or a poem, or as the hymn says, “I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder...” the prodigious power of the Universe mediating our awareness of God’s power and presence. “How great Thou art.”
But you did not even comment on God’s omni-presence, or on any other notion I shared. So this is not much a dialogue we are engaged in, as it is two monologues, being pushed along parallel tracks.
What do I care about Tertullian? He did not deal with the power of art and beauty to convey to our awareness, the presence of the ever-present God.
You might enjoy a little exposure to sacred synagogue art. Try googling
DURA EUROPOS SYNAGOGUE PAINTINGS
to see some exquisite examples from the third century A.D.
It was Islam that really put the kibosh on art. Islamic invasion had an impact on culture that was pervasively anti-Incarnation in every sense of the word. They rejected Jesus precisely as “image of the invisible God”.
Their philosophy could be stated, “ for Allah so loved the world, He sent a book.”
I've noticed that Eastern Orthodox posts on identical topics get zero comments.
Perhaps they are not motivated out of charity for if they were the case they would attempt to set their Orthodox sisters and brother "straight" as well.
Well last year, the anti-Catholic attacks by Evangelical Protestant Christians anytime an issue of interest to Catholics that the owner of this site had to come in and WARN any Evangelical Protestant Christians to END the anti-Catholic bashing.
Could it be that when the Orthodox FRpers post any posts, they “caucus” the thread meaning only for Orthodox or Catholics.
Could it better if threads such as this become “caucus” threads?
Particularly in Mark’s Gospel, there is great emphasis on the eyes and the look of Jesus.<<<
Looking on Christ and allowing Him to look on you is a powerful moment of conversion.<<<
There is just something within us that seeks the face of God and desires that look of love that alone can heal and perfect us.<<<
Amazing what ends up posted here in plain sight.
There's a rectification, unification, and understanding of all things when the allegory is the literal meaning. Good idea to point that out. Never know who might be reading / who would need to see that. :)
They are like the people who buy Cuban cigars on arrival abroad.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.