ORIGINAL CHRISTIAN OIL PAINTINGS

Interpretation of the painting: This painting is correctly viewed from the view point that I have spiritually died to this world and am born again to a new reality, which is a life in Jesus Christ. The painting is a considered prayerful response to the beatitude; blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.

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Background: This painting is a journey that begins in a global lockdown (due to COVID 19) and how I wrestle with the response of the Church in denying the sacraments to the faithful. Very few priests are willing to discuss the churches attitude, or justify it in terms of scripture. This has caused confusion and fierce debate.

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The journey: The journey began with prayer. Praying that God would inspire me and to reveal to me the truth that is a fruit of his divine providence. I then began to look at scripture and try to see if any clues to this mystery had been concealed in his Holy Bible. I found clues but the idea that any conclusions drawn from it must not contradict the scripture in its entirety. This led then me to proportion blame and ask questions of all concerned. Drawing on the tower of Babel referred to in Genesis, to the all seeing eye of the Freemasons, to the 3rd Secret of Fatima and to the Churches response in previous pandemics. Searching the documents written by theologians, popes and other scholars, all this seemed to be perfectly justifiable. I began to form ideas that had biblical symbols that seemed to echo the times that we were living in.

The next step on the journey was to discuss all my finding with God in the form of meditation. This was the moment when I began to realize that my thinking was a direct contradiction to the word of God. However, I felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit that the image was not all wrong, but the way that I viewed it was in error. I was hesitant to paint the image I had received when I did not understand it.

This led me to a deep contemplation and prayer that the meaning be revealed to me. This was an anxious time as the basic image was sketched out, but I still did not want to paint it until I was sure that the meaning was in accordance with scripture. For it is to the Glory of God that all my images are painted. At last after many weeks the truth was revealed to me. It was only when my eyes were directed to the heavens that I could see our situation reflected in the eyes of Christ. My soul had found the peace it was looking for. My soul had been stilled and I could see more clearly. After a few more changes I painted the image.

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The meaning of the painting: In summary, this image was a search for the meaning of the beatitude; blessed are those that show mercy for they shall receive mercy. I had always thought that mercy was only an outward deed like an action of feeding the homeless.  I have only just begun to realise that everything begins with my thoughts and how I respond to God within my interior castle. This image begins by paraphrasing the words said in the opening sequences of the Roman Catholic Holy Mass. I paraphrased it because I felt that this was more of a command that God was giving me. As if he was saying; if you want to come closer to my heart you must recognise your sins. This includes the sins that I don’t know I am committing. My journey was a sinful one and I fully acknowledge that the end does not justify the means. But it was only by climbing up this mountain (pyramid) of sin (my personal Babel) that I was able to confess and acknowledge the sins I habitually do, like the judgements and the proportioning of blame whilst claiming the moral and scriptural high ground.

The shattered grey stone pyramid represents my sins and the all knowing eye is my sin of placing me on the moral and scriptural high ground. These sins have been destroyed by the ‘Hand of God’ and will no longer be remembered.

The rock is the ‘'safe’ place that is referred to in psalm 27 and the cross is the ‘shelter of his wings’ where he will protect me, referred to in psalm 61. This ultimately refers to the cross on Calvary.  Like St. John and Our Mother, Mary, I found that I had to kneel in front of the cross and ask for his mercy. I received mercy by asking for forgiveness for those I have offended and endeavouring to show mercy by beginning with my own thoughts and to see Christ in everyone. It was only then that my actions in this material world can truly follow in the name of Jesus Christ. I began to realise that actions and deeds by themselves are not necessarily in the name of Jesus Christ.

The ‘Hand of God’ is also a personal symbol that represents how the world and my sins are at odds with God. The hand and the lightning proceeding from the finger of God is lack of peace inside my soul (you have been weighed and measured and have been found wanting). It is the corrections of the Holy Spirit. It is the chaos that exists outside of our relationship that we have with our God. It is the power that God exercises everyday and every moment to destroy the evil that threatens my peace every moment of my life. It is a reminder that outside of Jesus Christ, there is no salvation. It is only Jesus Christ that protects us from the evil one.

So as I raise my eyes in prayer to seek the face of Christ, I hear the words of St Paul ‘it is no longer I that liveth, but Christ that liveth in me’.