Where Are You In The Painting?

A Personal Invitation

A Lenten story.

Tintoretto has a famed painting (circa 1550) of Christ washing his disciples’ feet. It is a massive canvas spreading across the AGO gallery floor (approx. 8’x18’). In the scene Jesus is in the process of washing the feet of a disciple with others gathered around. Some have already had their feet washed and are putting on their boots, others are still trying to get their boots off, and others are drying their feet. You get the picture.

But more important, the artist asks the viewer to consider what is going on behind the camera if you like—what is going on inside? How are the disciples coping interiorly with the reality of a servant Messiah? How does this event fit with their idea of God’s coming kingdom? In a similar way the artist presses us for our own response to the Servant Christ. Will we allow him to wash our feet? More pointedly, what does it mean for you or for me?

(Holding that thought we also look to the painting itself and notice how it comes across almost as a 3D film shot achieved by the lines on the stone floor converging as they recede into the background. Further, it is interesting to note that Tintoretto’s painting was acquired by a host of Ontarians who each purchased one square inch of the work for $10.00 (back in the 1950’s). In this manner the AGO closed the deal and secured the work for us to enjoy 70 years later (clever fundraising idea!).

We return to the portrayal of the Last Supper. We see the humble man from Galilee demonstrating his understanding of servant love. I ask myself if I would be willing to let him wash my feet? More so would I ever wash the feet of another? Touch their feet? Wash them? Tenderly dry them? Can I imagine myself being that vulnerable? How would my world change if I washed the feet of others in real time (or even metaphorically)?

The season of Lent at least raises these questions and the artist Tintoretto pushes us for a response. Would we refuse like Peter and say, “Never will you wash my feet!” Or perhaps be like Judas (portrayed to the left side of the canvas) who accepts the gift but despises Jesus for doing it. (Judas will later show the humble Christ what real power is like and seal it with a kiss!)

If we get it—as Peter finally does—possibly we too will say, “Lord wash not only my feet but all of me! Indeed, Lord do to me whatever you want to do, but please draw me close to you.”