My Advent with Michelangelo
My 30-year wedding anniversary trip to Italy last month prepared my heart for celebrating Advent last month as well. Although John and I viewed numerous Madonna and Child paintings, what captured my heart was the second last sculpture by the famous Michelangelo at the end of his life. It was an unfinished sculpture of Mary holding the body of her son, the crucified Christ, as Nicodemus gazed longingly at Christ’s face. As an autobiographical declaration, Michelangelo inserted his own self-portrait into Nicodemus’s face. Although Michelangelo is considered the greatest renaissance artist, yet next to the sculpture was a poem that he wrote at the end of his life. Even as a religious man, he confessed that he had made art his idol and king. But now at the end of his life, he can only long for Christ’s divine love and open embrace.
"The course of my life has now brought me
through a stormy sea, in a frail ship,
to the common port where, landing,
we account for every deed, wretched or holy.
So that now I clearly see
how wrong the fond illusion was
that made art my idol and my king
leading me to want what harmed me.
My amorous fancies, once foolish and happy:
what sense have they, now that I approach two deaths-
the first of which I know is sure, the second threatening.
Let neither painting nor carving any longer calm
my soul turned to that divine love
that to embrace us opened his arms upon the cross."
~ Michelangelo
That sculpture and poem stirred my heart for the recent Advent season! Like Michelangelo, let us confess the things that we’ve made our idol, often good things like our work, ministry, possessions, and hobbies. Instead, let us recenter our gaze on Christ and start 2025 in the embrace of our Christ. As the famous Christmas carol exclaims, “O come let us adore Him!” Our Lord so loves us. He is so excited when each of us take a step towards Him, whether we are near or far off. When I prayed this, I sensed His excitement that we draw near to Him. Jesus waits in anticipation for us to come face-to-face!
To start our 2025 in Christ, the All Nations leadership is calling our people to several days of fasting and 24-7 prayer in January, so that we may seek His gaze together. Additionally, as we embark on ever more challenging initiatives, such as launching the new 1040 Hub among the unreached, or DAWN (Deploying African Workers into the Nations), the All Nations leadership team has decided to fast weekly together to seek Christ’s directive and for breakthrough. We want to make encountering Christ central, even as we make disciples and plant churches among the least reached. We’ll be inviting our global All Nations family—anyone whose heart feels moved—to join us in our weekly fasting to draw near to Him.
Blessings,
Mary Ho
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