March 10: Christ Among the Lepers
♫ Music:
Tuesday, March 10
Scripture: John 10:7-10; 14:6
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
CHRIST AMONG THE LEPERS
After the painting by J. Kirk Richards
by Marc Malandra
Jesus reaches out his hand in a gesture
of friendship, violating every law
the chosen ones were taught to follow.
Even whiskers can’t hide the man’s
stunned apathy: to be approached
mid-day by a healing stranger?
The cave-hospital that isn’t one,
which houses society’s pariah, invites
the Great Physician unaware.
The braver disciples who cling
or cower behind their Master enter
in blue shawls, wrapped in trust.
Outside the cave, the truly leprous
liars who wait to throw this radical out,
cast looks of aspersion, judgment,
feeling light hit their blind eyes, seeming
safe in alabaster chambers of pride,
unable to sense the illness in their hearts.
More like us inside: a woman covers her
shame, her face, not not believing,
perhaps she too will embrace the Guest.
And most like us: a man crouches, head
on knees, unable to gaze at the miracle
worker an arm away. Don’t sleep
through this, I want to tell him, don’t
miss your chance to be re-clothed in robes
of gracious forgiveness. All like us:
lepers of the heart, eyes, ears and mind,
let us erase our wretched shadow-
selves and purge them in the flames
of Christ’s healing salve. Righteous
sinners among our fellow lepers, let’s
leave the cave, cross through the door.
PRAYER
Dear Father, Help us to leave our caves of leprosy and cross through Christ the Door, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We are grateful that in Him we find everything needed for this earthly life and for all eternity. Amen.
Marc Malandra, Associate Professor of English, English Department
Christ Among the Lepers
J Kirk Richards
2011
Oil on Canvas
About the Artist & Art
J. Kirk Richards (b. 1976) is a favorite among admirers of contemporary spiritual artwork. His love of the textural, the poetic, and the mysterious, has translated into a unique take on traditional Judeo-Christian themes. Richards attributes much of his love for the arts to an early emphasis on musical training in his parents’ home. Two years in Rome strongly influenced Richards’ palette, which often consists of subdued browns and rusts.
http://www.jkirkrichards.com/
About the Music
I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life lyrics
I am the way, the truth, and the life:
No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
About the Musicians
Voces Oxonienses is a British choir that works with multiple directors and composers. I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life is from their album From Wonderland to Heaven. The album includes Kathryn Copeland, soprano; Elizabeth Schorah, harp; and Rufus Frowde, organ. The song was composed by James Cook.