ART OF THE MONTH – MARCH
During Lent it is a good practice to examine our consciences as we use these precious days to prepare for Easter. It is not always easy to face up to our faults and failings. We may, indeed, find it easier to judge the faults of others! St Paul was aware of this and wrote, “Who are you to pass judgement on another?” (Rom. 14:4). Wasn’t it Plato who said, “Man, know thy self.” Possibly, although some scholars attribute the aphorism to Socrates! The point is that we will all stand before Christ’s Judgement. We do well to think about this Judgement over us, and not concern ourselves with other people’s sins.
Our painting is “The Woman Caught in Adultery” by Isaak L’vovich Asknaziy a Jewish Russian painter who was born in Belarus in the latter half of the 19th century and who died in Moscow. He was known primarily for his historical and Biblical scenes. The onlookers in the background are painted in muted colours as if to suggest they are not important except, perhaps, as witnesses to the event. The disputants are, however, painted in bright vivid colours thus drawing attention to their seeming importance. The man on the left, with his shifty eyes, has a sneering pose as he looks down on this wretched woman while the principal accuser stands proud and arrogant, wearing his phylactery on his forehead.
Looking closely, however, he looks slightly uncomfortable as he listens to the Lord’s words. The other accusers, particularly the one with his hand to his mouth, perhaps are beginning to regret their accusation and are weakening in their resolve. The woman with her long tresses and revealing gown – a sign of her past, now kneels in humble and penitent pose before the One she now recognises as her Master. Jesus appears head and shoulders above everyone in a gentle, forgiving stance wearing the purple robe of triumph. The dye used for making the colour purple, extracted from shell-fish, was one of the most expensive dyes and was used to colour ceremonial robes.
Weak human nature does make us prone to be aware of the faults of others even if we do not judge them. But what should we do if we see a person who has obviously sinned and deserves condemnation? We could ask the Father of Mercy with our whole soul for that person: “Lord forgive him.” And then the demon of condemnation will depart from us, for demons always flee from prayer. If we judge, the demon will remain, and then it will be very hard to get rid of that sin. Perhaps we judge others simply out of habit rather than as a result of malice. Still, it is good to uproot this habit, and not allow it to grow in us. After stopping ourselves once or twice, we will learn to refrain from judging others and become more able to control the habit. When we face up to our own failings, we become less prone to see the faults in others.
Monsignor Monaghan
