Reflection Day 11
Picture in your mind, William Bell Scott in 1871, busy at his easel in Penkill Castle, Ayrshire painting this very Scottish setting for the nativity. Does it seem weird to find ‘a manager scene’ in a Scottish barn? Look carefully for all the parts of the nativity story – angels, shepherds, wise men, animals and a manger. Can you spot an unexpected thing beside Mary?
Many artists are keen to convey the relevance of Jesus’ birth to the people of their own time; placing the events we know about, into the land and culture of the viewers of the picture. Does that approach make sense to you? The idea is to stop us seeing Jesus as a distant figure of the past, but rather as the unique Son of God, who comes to all people - again and again – to make himself know to us.
Can you see Jesus coming into Scottish life, walking our beaches, challenging our churches? Look up at the hayloft of the tumble-down barn and you’ll see ‘creatures of the air’ – birds and angels together. When God breaks through into our world (his world) he shows us that heaven and earth are very close indeed.
p.s. The pot of lilies beside Mary? Artist’s code for the purity of Mary. But remember too Jesus’ words from Matthew 6. 25-29. He counsels those close to him not to keep worrying about tomorrow, but to trust God. Something Mary was clearly prepared to do!
