Yesterday was Rembrandt van Rijn's 407th birthday. Who knew? Google, of course. How many people are gainfully employed by Google to provide the daily Google Doodle on the home page? There are lots of cool reminders about the famous, infamous, and obscure people and events of history, to be sure.
Those of you who follow this blog and have been in the worship services I have led know that I have a thing for Rembrandt. He is one of the great artists of any age and he was actually recognized, popular, and wealthy in his own lifetime. But he experienced the tragic losses of three beloved children as well as his wife and muse, Saskia. He was not good with money either, so this prolific artist who created 600 paintings and 400 etchings found himself in Dutch (sorry) in his not-so-golden years.
It was in that period of loss and decline that he produced what may have been his greatest painting, The Prodigal Son. It depicts the homecoming of the wayward man child described in the parable of Jesus found only in Luke's gospel. It is one of three "lost and found" parables, along with the lost coin and the lost sheep. The stories move from misplaced object, to missing livestock, to errant kid. The final parable is longer and more subtle, as though the listeners are being prepared for the "heavy lifting" of the final parable with its dynamics of forgiveness, reconciliation, and even bitterness on the part of the other, faithful son. We are certainly led to see that the desire of our God is to bring us home in forgiving love.
In Rembrandt's work there is a sense that his own life is present in the painting rather than simply depicting a biblical story. There are many Rembrandt self-portraits, from the young and cocky to the old and broken. The Prodigal Son captures his life journey even though he is not literally portrayed.
Do you know this painting, now in Russia's Hermitage, or have you seen it? Have you lived it? How is your parable of forgiveness and reconciliation unfolding?
Saw the doodle, have never seen the painting, knew the parable, still working on forgiveness.
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The Church, especially the long -established conservative variety (of the 36,000 denominations... heard that last Sunday - Whew - no wonder Christianity is confusing!), like the Older Son, sometimes has a hard time accepting the grace offered to the outcast, the Fallen, and those who come Home after all is lost, having chosen their own way, and not "come to their senses" earlier... but there is more than one parable that teaches us about God's desire for all of us to come Home... and the Great Love that welcomes us all...didn't Jesus say He came to save the lost? On a personal note - I am always seeking a welcome back home, and forgiveness...not perfect, by a long shot! Love Rembrandt's paintings, too. The contrasting light and dark areas are full of meaning.
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