The Message Of The Cross
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle B
"Can you make a banner for the church?"
Leanna trembled. She loved to sew and make banners, but what should she make? This was a huge church and the canvas would be large. Many, many people would see it. This was a chance to share the gospel in one dramatic instance. It had to be just right.
Images which were bold and uncomplicated were Leanna's trademark. The banner would be up most of the year and she was given carte blanche: it could be her idea, her creation, her message. After much prayer, she started researching the possibilities.
One day Leanna sketched a pelican. The symbol of piety, a pelican will tear open her own breast to feed her young in times of famine. The pelican had three baby pelicans at her breast. It was a serene picture but Leanna wasn't satisfied. People might not see the connection.
Thinking of birds, Leanna drew a peacock. Resurrection, renewal, and immortality were on Leanna's mind as she used purple, orange, blues, greens, and yellows on the body. But when she stepped back, she saw vanity and pride in the stance and tilt of his head. It wasn't the message she wanted to convey.
One morning Leanna was inspired to draw a perfect rose. Pinks turned to a deep shade of red. Tightly wound petals uncurled around the edge of the rose. It was lovely, but it wasn't quite right.
After a short jog around the park, Leanna penciled a bunch of grapes and a cluster of wheat. Christ in the wine and bread. How fitting during Holy Communion! It was a beautiful picture with deep purples and browns, but it was too predictable. It wasn't what Leanna had in mind. It lacked drama for her taste.
Two days later, Leanna was particularly excited with her rendition of a knee with young children on it. The children's faces were tilted upward, listening to an unseen speaker. An arm was around them. It was a compassionate scene. But it still wasn't the message she wanted to convey.
She toyed with the idea of a cross, but how surprising was that? It would also be predictable and common. It wouldn't be dramatic. But the thought wouldn't leave her and she sketched crosses in different angles. Finally she settled on the upper half of a rugged cross, splinters showing on the edges. She drew a trace of shoulders with a head hanging down. But it was very vague. Were the shoulders a figment of the imagination or were they really there? It was just the effect Leanna wanted. But something was missing.
The rough cross filled up the entire canvas, and the eyes were drawn to the faint outline of shoulders stretching from side to side. She drew the thinnest circle resting on the one of the shoulders, adding small nettles. But she made them look like long ovals. One had to look hard. Were they thorns or jewels? It was perfect. It was finished. It was just what Leanna had in mind. She couldn't wait to start sewing as she considered the image before her.
It was only on the rough cross that Jesus became Lord, the final authority, the king. On that day it was perfect. It was finished.
Leanna trembled. She loved to sew and make banners, but what should she make? This was a huge church and the canvas would be large. Many, many people would see it. This was a chance to share the gospel in one dramatic instance. It had to be just right.
Images which were bold and uncomplicated were Leanna's trademark. The banner would be up most of the year and she was given carte blanche: it could be her idea, her creation, her message. After much prayer, she started researching the possibilities.
One day Leanna sketched a pelican. The symbol of piety, a pelican will tear open her own breast to feed her young in times of famine. The pelican had three baby pelicans at her breast. It was a serene picture but Leanna wasn't satisfied. People might not see the connection.
Thinking of birds, Leanna drew a peacock. Resurrection, renewal, and immortality were on Leanna's mind as she used purple, orange, blues, greens, and yellows on the body. But when she stepped back, she saw vanity and pride in the stance and tilt of his head. It wasn't the message she wanted to convey.
One morning Leanna was inspired to draw a perfect rose. Pinks turned to a deep shade of red. Tightly wound petals uncurled around the edge of the rose. It was lovely, but it wasn't quite right.
After a short jog around the park, Leanna penciled a bunch of grapes and a cluster of wheat. Christ in the wine and bread. How fitting during Holy Communion! It was a beautiful picture with deep purples and browns, but it was too predictable. It wasn't what Leanna had in mind. It lacked drama for her taste.
Two days later, Leanna was particularly excited with her rendition of a knee with young children on it. The children's faces were tilted upward, listening to an unseen speaker. An arm was around them. It was a compassionate scene. But it still wasn't the message she wanted to convey.
She toyed with the idea of a cross, but how surprising was that? It would also be predictable and common. It wouldn't be dramatic. But the thought wouldn't leave her and she sketched crosses in different angles. Finally she settled on the upper half of a rugged cross, splinters showing on the edges. She drew a trace of shoulders with a head hanging down. But it was very vague. Were the shoulders a figment of the imagination or were they really there? It was just the effect Leanna wanted. But something was missing.
The rough cross filled up the entire canvas, and the eyes were drawn to the faint outline of shoulders stretching from side to side. She drew the thinnest circle resting on the one of the shoulders, adding small nettles. But she made them look like long ovals. One had to look hard. Were they thorns or jewels? It was perfect. It was finished. It was just what Leanna had in mind. She couldn't wait to start sewing as she considered the image before her.
It was only on the rough cross that Jesus became Lord, the final authority, the king. On that day it was perfect. It was finished.
