Christmas is coming, but where is Jesus? Lippi’s busy painting catches the nature of our world. The painting was begun in Florence by Michaelangelo, but he left it unfinished, having been called to Milan for other work. Eventually, Lippi was hired to finish it. It sounds like our Christmas, always unfinished.
But in God’s good grace, we are still blessed by Jesus’ Daring Presence.
Here is the painting left by Michaelangelo. He had a 30-month contract to complete it. He never came back to finish, perhaps because of the political turmoil with different powers taking territory back and forth in his era. In the far background, he included a military conflict going on, while those in the foreground are intent on worship.
Both his and Lippi’s finished work seem too busy, with Jesus obscured by all the people and events going on around him. Maybe that was what Michaelangelo intended to show. Although there was turmoil in his world, he kept making glorious works of art.
Perhaps most of us prefer something more realistic to picture Jesus’ coming, but I think this artistic genius was telling us something about the secret glory of Christ Jesus, a daring prince of peace arriving in a world full of confusion and conflicting powers.
We celebrate with you the love of God.
He shows it in the daring coming of
Jesus to be our Savior and Lord.
Every year we rejoice that Jesus’ coming
is the best news for a weary, distracted,
world of which we are a part.
We hope you will be blessed to
spend time with family and with
Jesus’ blessed presence among you.
We wish you a
blessed and happy Christmas!
From both of us - Stan & Mary Ann Hagemeyer
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