“God’s Word is written on our hearts and we express that Truth in countless ways.”
The Invisible Iconographer
In traditional Orthodox iconography the goal of the iconographer is to be invisible. Individual expression or style is not sought after because it is considered a distraction to prayer and devotion. This is why icons from so many different periods by so many different artists all look similar, it is intentional.
And although the painter may desire to leave no trace of themselves in their work, this is not really possible. Every person is a unique individual with unique talents, backgrounds, and experiences. We cannot leave that out of any work we put our hands to. Any artistic work represents the sum total of the life experience of the artist at the time of its creation.
Scholars who study the sacred artform of iconography can usually look at an icon and determine not only when it was painted, where it was painted, but often, who painted it as well.
The painter leaves his mark on his paintings, it cannot be helped. A 20th century iconographer painting an icon that was first created six or seven hundred years ago, will leave small clues here and there that tell the observer exactly who painted it and when. It may be the thickness of a line or a subtle difference in the shape of an eye, but the clues will be there.
The Mark of the Creator
The Creator leaves his stamp on His creation.
God created the world to teach us about Himself. All of creation bears His mark. But our response to God was inadequate and we allowed sin and death to mar His creation. Nevertheless God has continued to nourish the world with His Word, teaching us how to restore creation to its original state. He did this first through the words of the prophets, recorded in the Old Testament.
But we are a hard hearted people, subject to a fallen world. Time after time, covenant after covenant, it was man who failed. Finally the Word itself took on flesh and came to teach us. When Jesus tells us that He came to make all things new, He is telling us He came to restore all things according to how they were meant to be from the beginning.
Still, all too often our response remains inadequate. Sin continues to frustrate the otherwise glorious harvest that results from the seed planted by the Word.
The Parable of the Sower
In the Parable of the Sower, the seed being sown is the Word of God trying to make its way into the human soul. The seed that falls on the path is the Word that is received but not understood. It is quickly snatched away by the evil one. The seed that falls on rocky ground springs up quickly but has no root and just as quickly withers and dies. It is the Word that is received with joy but finds no purchase in the heart. The seed that falls among the thorns is the Word that is choked by worldly anxiety and the allure of riches. But the seed sown on rich soil is the Word received with understanding. It will bear fruit and yield a hundredfold.
Parables are a type of analogy, and analogy is the realm of the creatives. Parables may present us with something from everyday life, but they are also doorways to spiritual and divine insights about God. It is not enough to look at the door, it must be opened to discover what lies beyond. Every expression of the arts is an opportunity to create such a door.
The stories we tell ourselves, through books, television, and movies, are forms of parables. The farm boy who sets out to rescue a princess and in the process finds himself a prince, is the story of the soul, longing for something greater than itself. It sets out on a quest to find this treasure and in the process discovers its own value as a child of God.
God’s Word is written on our hearts and we express that Truth in countless ways. When we look at our stories this way, when we see the Word of God this way, we can discern profound truths about our world, ourselves, and our Lord.
But this requires effort, we need to see and not just look, we need to listen and not just hear. We need to form ourselves to be the good soil that allows the Word of God to bear fruit in the world. There is an evil presence in the world that just waits for the opportunity to sweep away the Word that does not fall on fertile soil.
It is up to us to make sure that God’s Word can produce a good harvest in our lives. But we fight against the culture of today. Too often all the noise in the world drowns out the Word. Our own anxieties, and the allure of worldly riches, can do the same because they reflect our attachment to the cares and values of the secular world.
We need to consider the environment we have created around ourselves. What do we surround ourselves with? What type of people do we associate with? What type of activities do we engage in in? What type of art do we create and adorn our walls with? Will our lives allow the seed to grow or will the environment allow the thorns of the world choke the seed? It may be that we need to consider that there are certain places we should not go, certain people we should no longer see, and certain things we should no longer do.
Pax Vobiscum
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time