Leonardo and "The Last Supper"

You will see with this blog today a picture of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper”.    Many of you have seen it before or perhaps you can seen a re-enactment of it during Holy Week or on Maundy Thursday in your church.   Some of you may even have a copy of the painting in your home  Though it is a work from the late 15^th century, it is one of the most recognized paintings in  the world still today.    

I heard a story about da Vinci and the painting a few days ago from an unlikely source:  one of the books of writer and psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw.   Dr. Phil tells the story that when da Vinci was working on the painting, he ran into a particularly difficult time when he was trying to paint the face of Jesus.   At this time,  it seems that da Vinci had had a  disagreement with an associate.   Though it is not revealed what the issue might have been, da Vinci discovered that the disagreement with the friend was the reason that he was having a difficult time completing his masterpiece.   You see, it is difficult to look at the face of Jesus when you look with scorn or dismay at the face of a brother or sister. 

In that story shared by Dr. Phil is found an important truth that many of us sometimes overlook:  there is a connection between our relationship with the Lord and our relationship with others.   If there is trouble in our relationship with others, it will impact our relationship with God.    Jesus gets to the heart of that connection in the prayer he taught his disciples that we call “The Lords Prayer”  when he taught them (and us) to pray “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”   Is your relationship with God adversely impacted by the truth that there is an issue between you and someone else?  Perhaps it is time to get the matter resolved.    Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:   O God, we ask your forgiveness for the times that we are quick to offer condemnation of others and slow to forgive.  Forgive us, O God, and help us to forgive others knowing how abundantly you forgive us again and again; through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.