Suffering, Refuge, Sacrifice
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all”
Jacopo Tintoretto's "El Lavatori" is a Renaissance masterpiece that boldly reimagines one of the most profound moments of humility and servanthood in Christian tradition: Christ’s washing of his disciple’s feet. Unlike many serene depictions of this scene, Tintoretto's canvas explodes with dynamic energy and unconventional composition. The painting plunges us into a chaotic, almost claustrophobic space where Christ, the disciples, and various onlookers are entangled in a whirlwind of motion and emotion.
In this tumultuous setting, we find Jesus not centrally placed, but off to the side, bent low in service. This composition echoes Mark 10:45, "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Tintoretto's Christ is not a distant, ethereal figure, but one who gets his hands dirty, literally and figuratively, in the mess of human life. The artist challenges us to recognize the profound inversion of power dynamics that Christ embodies – the King of Kings stooping to wash the feet of his followers.
The painting's swirling activity and unconventional perspective serve as a visual metaphor for the disorienting nature of Christ's teachings on servanthood. Just as James and John in Mark's gospel struggle to understand true greatness in God's kingdom, the figures in Tintoretto's work seem caught in a moment of confusion and realization. The artist invites us to place ourselves in this scene, to feel the discomfort and awe of witnessing divinity performing the most mundane and lowly of tasks.
Through his dramatic use of light and shadow, Tintoretto evokes the suffering servant who was "pierced for our transgressions" and the divine protection that shelters believers. In this visual tension, we see the paradox of a God who both suffers for humanity and offers refuge from suffering.
We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are.
-Hebrews 4:15
Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
Texts for This Week
Prayer
which you have made known to us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Scriptures
Isaiah 53:4–12
Psalm 91
Hebrews 4:12–16
Mark 10:35–45
Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet
Gavin Bryars' haunting composition "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet" offers a profound meditation on faith, suffering, and redemption. The piece centers around a loop of an unnamed homeless man singing a simple religious refrain: "Jesus' blood never failed me yet, never failed me yet. Jesus' blood never failed me yet. This one thing I know, for he loves me so." This raw, unadorned voice becomes the foundation for an ever-expanding orchestral arrangement.
The repetitive nature of the homeless man's song echoes the psalmist's unwavering trust in God's protection expressed in Psalm 91. Despite his apparent destitution, the singer clings to an unshakeable faith, much like the psalmist who declares, "I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" Bryars' decision to build his entire composition around this voice elevates the faith of the marginalized, challenging listeners to recognize profound spiritual truth in unexpected places.
The repetition forces us to listen, and to listen differently. The rough melody is difficult to listen to at first. But as the orchestration grows and swells, the beauty and sweetness of the music deepens. The orchestral accompaniment opens and draws out beautiful dimensions of his simple song that had been hidden. It challenges us to reconsider our notions of faith, worthiness, and divine love. Centering the voice of the outcast and reject, and treating it with such profound reverence, the piece embodies Christ's teachings on servanthood and the upside-down nature of God's kingdom. It reminds us that true greatness often comes wrapped in humility, and that God's strength is made perfect in weakness
