ArtWay

Quality is the first norm for art, but its final norm is love and truth, the enriching of human life, the deepening of our vision.

Year B, Proper 25

Year B, Proper 25, Revised Common Lectionary
 
Kees de Kort: Bartimaeus
 
 
This is one of the illustrations in the Dutch Kijkbijbel (The Big Picture Bible) by Kees de Kort with its visual stories of high quality.
 
Here we see Bartimaeus, enclosed in a dark brown and black outfit up to his neck. The mourning bands on the sleeves and the frayed edges testify to a handicapped life. At a certain moment he became blind, as shown here by the bandage over his diseased eyes. His life became black and difficult, but his faith only became stronger because of it.
 
As if he had been waiting for it, he begins to shout when he hears that Jesus is passing by. And he shouts even more loudly when the embarrassed bystanders urge him to be quiet. His face becomes red. His scream reminds us of the one by Edvard Munch, shutting out the counterpressure from the crowd by putting both hands over his ears.
 
But Jesus hears him and calls out to him. Bartimaeus jumps up, throws off his miserable coat and walks towards the voice of his Rabbi and Saviour.
 
Marleen Hengelaar-Rookmaaker
 
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Kees de Kort: Bartimaeus, Kijkbijbel (The Big Picture Bible),1992. Read more: https://keesdekort.com/en/news-and-info
 
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Year B, Proper 25, Revised Common Lectionary
 
Scripture readings: Job 42:1-6, 10-17, Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22), Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10:46-52
 
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