"Adoration" - Welcome to Epiphany
“The Adoration of the Magi” by Rembrandt
Welcome to Epiphany!
In addition, I cannot forget to wish everyone a Happy New Year.
My New Year seems filled with travel at the jump-start. The first week of January, I will be attending a retreat to help facilitate a Deacon workshop for the Diocese of California at Bishop’s Ranch in Sonoma County. The following week I will be attending a Deacon workshop at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. After that, I am off to Houston, TX to visit family. Therefore, I will not be in church with you all the first three Sundays in January. In all that time, I will have missed a moment with you during one of the transitions in our Liturgical seasons, Epiphany.
While I am in my travel mode, I am thinking back to my trips overseas some years back when I spent a good amount of time visiting fine art museums throughout Europe. I love to reflect on the art I experienced in that time. Just before visiting the Hermitage in St. Petersburg Russia, I learned of the collection of art that the Pre-Raphaelites of the mid-19th century studied and revered. While the Pre-Raphaelite artists established an art form, their creations were a reflection of the masterworks from earlier centuries. It is funny how a study of an art movement led me to appreciate origins of the art, rather than the art form itself.
The Pre-Raphaelites sought to build on the full natural sense of the works found in the Renaissance and Early Netherlandish paintings. Rembrandt’s The Adoration of the Magi is a good example.
The moment I saw this work of art in person with the Rembrandt collection at the Hermitage, I had to get closer to absorb the natural light and colors of the story.
There was no guardrail or velvet rope in front of the art piece. Therefore, I felt a freedom to gain a closer look. Our translator and friend, Anna, warned me that the little Russian women standing around in the galleries were actually museum volunteers. She said that they would act accordingly if I got too close. I noticed them in the distance. However, they looked more like peasant women. I am afraid I did not give them their due, at first.
As I was leaning in closer to study the shadows and light in how Rembrandt told this story by placing each Magi in different stages of their adoration, one of the women spoke toward me in Russian. Anna told me that she said, “I must move back.”
I could not take my eyes off the expressions of each character. I wanted to study how the color and detail gave a natural glow to all the movement. It is such an active piece of art!
At the third announcement from the Russian woman who was moving closer toward me at the time, Anna again translated in a more urgent voice, “She said, move back!”
At that, this cute little Russian woman, who looked to be a sweet mother of a person, reached back with a swing, cupped her hand, and spanked me; dead center of my bottom.
Lesson learned. Do not get too close!
However, how can we see the light if we do not get close? In the Epiphany story, ‘Adoration’ is just a small part of such a huge story. The magi seem to be moving closer and closer in their adoration. They are actually extreme characters of the story in that they themselves are not Jewish. Rembrandt carefully exhibited this in their dress and position in action.
Even as a baby, before he could quote the Prophets, Jesus was inviting folks into action to become closer. I believe the Magi in their adoration understood this invitation to break down the cultural walls that divide people and races.
There is A Movement that we can take part of in the Epiphany. Moreover, that movement underscores the truth we can find in Jesus (God’s) invitation to live in solidarity. So much so, that we can find ourselves getting closer to God’s children than we can ever imagine.
Grace and Peace
The Rev. Arthur W. Villarreal
Deacon