A painting for meditation

It is a wall painting, I found hanging opposite the staircase, leading to the basement of an office building, I visited recently.  

It has a semblance of the scene, when Jesus of Nazareth made himself known at the supper table to two men  and their family - the story of two travellers to Emmaus.

The way the painter has portrayed this scene highlights some creative aspects of this encounter.

The narration of this event in the new testament book of Luke makes no mention of who else were present in the home. The painter added two women. I like that inclusive approach. Jesus revealed Himself during the breaking of the bread to a family. The painter presents Jesus as a guest who would bring blessings and healing to families.

The table has just bread and a jar, a very simple menu for a special occasion. The simple menu of the meal is deliberately presented by the painter to communicate a counter culture to the lavish dinners we host in our homes and in public functions. The meal time is for relationship, communion and celebration of fellowship. The food itself is not the only reason for meal time gatherings.

Everyone is gathered around a round table. Jesus draws everyone together around the table and creates an ambience of nearness and connectedness. To have women around a table where men are seated is unlikely to be acceptable in jewish tradition. And yet the painter transcends that and creates a community around the person of Jesus. This is an echo of the Jesus's mission on earth, 'that they all may be one'.  

The position of the right hand of Jesus, with the thumb pointing to himself, the index finger heaven word and the three fingers toward those around the table is a solemn portrayal of the spirit of the occasion. Jesus and the Father are reaching out to the family through His Spirit. A gentle symbol of the  presence of the Trinitarin presence in the family.

The painting is differently coloured with halos around Jesus and a woman and the light and shadows  falling differently on the two men, one woman and the  table. An profound artistic expression of how the presence of Jesus fills the inner space of our soul by His grace, according to the needs of each person.  

Share with me your meditation on this painting, when you get time.

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)