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Noli me tangere
Egg tempera and 23-karat gold on board
Our church is
founded on Christ, believes in God’s redeeming love because of
Christ, and is called to proclaim and live that love through
Christ. Ubuntu for me is living that life of Christ
proclaimed, for it is only through Christ in our own hearts
that we can see Him and love Him in others. Perhaps no one in
the Gospel narratives exemplifies this life in Christ better
than Mary Magdalene. Through her encounter with Christ she was
transformed from someone deeply troubled to someone uniquely
faithful among His disciples, constant in her love and daring
in her devotion. The risen Christ’s appearance to her on
Easter morning therefore was supremely fitting. He calls her
by name, and she characteristically responds with utter faith
and love. If we can but respond as Mary did when Christ calls
us by name—with the love born of ardent faith—we will be far
along the path toward the Ubuntu to which God summons us in
Christ.
I feel privileged to be both an iconographer and an
Episcopalian. Our church is today rediscovering and
celebrating iconography, one of the church universal’s most
ancient and sacred traditions. I am honored to be a part of
this spiritual and artistic tradition that strengthens the
holy bonds of Ubuntu connecting the faithful of past, present,
and future. |
