March 2009 - Vol. 28 The Word of Forgiveness “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”  – Luke 23:34 commentary and painting by John Dunne This work is about orientation; where we stand and position ourselves in our lives towards its events, both physically and spiritually.   Unlike many past depictions of the crucifixion, we are not encouraged here to empathize with the figure on the cross. For by the use of pathos, the artists in the past will have used every means at their disposal to draw us into the scene and feel the sadness or pity of the event. In my own painting I have placed the figure of Christ with his back to us, whilst the figures of the “elders” dressed in the fashion of the time are emphasized. At this point we are looking in on a scene where the main protagonists are strongly represented as darker figures placed higher than the cross to indicate the moral high ground they understood themselves to hold, and all set against the light of the noonday sun.

The Word of Forgiveness, oil painting by John Dunne   Go to > Next page | Introduction |

 Surely they are to blame! 

But before we take this line of thought we must remember that the Christian churches have had to seek forgiveness from those accused and we must never forget the dasterly crimes that stemmed from such a stance and viewpoint.
 
We may not have noticed another figure in this painting! The human figure dressed in green. This person only appeared in the work in its closing stages, as it was not in the original drawing for the painting. I did not understand at the time the importance, except as part of the composition, where it stood on a pivotal point within the work and seemed to work as a central point around which the rest of the action took place.  

Reflecting now on the importance of such a figure, I can understand its significance as a spiritual vortex: a place within which we as the viewer can be drawn into the scene. For in fact this figure is the viewer. If this is the case then the words spoken from the cross are directed at us. Our position, our point of view has now shifted from that of the viewer and now focuses on the ones looked upon and spoken about. From this new point of view we are looking into the face of Christ. We must listen with a new ear to hear what the word of forgiveness means for us and not just those elders or the soldiers or the howling mob crying out for the blood of this innocent victim. 

It is important at the start of this series of meditations to be in the right place both spiritually and physically. 

This is not a place of repentance, of asking for forgiveness. No, this is the putting ourselves in the same place as those we have historically blamed for the death of Christ: of those who, as fallen people, did not know what they were doing. We will look about  for a scapegoat, even blame ourselves, but the point is that before anybody can lay claim to  this crime, the death of God no less, the words of forgiveness are spoken from the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Now we begin to understand the importance of our orientation, for when we look into that face of  Jesus and understand the compassion as well as the pardon, we may well be encouraged ourselves to forgive!  Even those who have not asked for our forgivness.