Art Reading Scripture
- trinitymilaca
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:40
Very little was recorded of Jesus childhood. A few stories tell about the days after his birth when he was named and blessed by Simeon and Anna in the Temple. Matthew wrote about the escape to Egypt when Herod slew the innocents of Bethlehem. Jesus may have been two years old at the time. The Holy Family lived there for a few years before returning to Nazareth after Herod's death. Luke wrote of the family returning to Nazareth immediately after fulfilling the required sacrifices in the Temple after the birth of a child. Luke told one more story of when Jesus was twelve and conversed with the elders in the Temple. Otherwise the comments are brief. "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor." A few other Infancy Gospels exist from around 150 CE, but they are not helpful, even troublesome. In them Jesus was a naughty child playing with power. He gave life to clay sparrows he made, a child who bumped into him and angry Jesus cursed him killing him after which Joseph reprimanded him, he insulted his teachers, he raised a dead child to life after being accused of pushing him off the roof, and he transformed some children into goats until their mothers begged him to restore them. He said, "Come, children, let us go and play." They immediately become children again.
On the other hand images of "The Holy Family" became very popular in the 1500's, both in Italy and the Netherlands. Artists painted scenes of them traveling together to Egypt, being together in a portrait like as though they were posing for a church directory, or scenes of their home life where Joseph worked as a carpenter and Mary sat reading or doing household chores. Looking at scenes and portraits of the Holy Family encouraged parents to model their lives upon this happy and holy family. Seeing the family together inspired genuine love and devotion. The Feast Day of the Holy Family is observed on a Sunday between Christmas and New Years.
Jan van Doorne's wood carving of the Holy Family from Belgium exemplifies the happiness and joy of family in a way we might seldom think about Jesus and his parents. A father and mother walking hand in hand with a toddler learning to walk. Mary and Joseph do not grip Jesus hands but simply offer him a steadying finger. Mary holds her hand over her heart, a gesture of happiness and love. Joseph steps confidently and gazes upon his son with pride. Jesus in a long shirt happily steps along the path. Parents and grandparents know the simple peace and joy of this experience. It does not depict the work and toil of life. It does not allude to the trauma that Jesus death will bring to Mary. It is simply a family together out for a stroll. No, it is not recorded in the Gospels that such a moment took place. It is a much better scene from Jesus childhood than some imagined. Walking with a child, giving them a steadying hand, rejoicing in their happiness and feeling how they connect mother and father to each other, is a common and innocent act which is also holy. Bless you with your children and grandchildren. Cherish those moments when you can walk hand in hand and share a holy moment together.
Keep the faith. Say your prayers. Love like Jesus.
Pastor Tim Bauer