From Now Until the End of Time.

Sunday, July 25 is all about The Nations' relationship with God; how to ask for help and forgiveness, and what we can expect in response.

The first reading from Genesis reveals an angry but merciful God, something different than the Fire and Brimstone Deity that predominates the Hebrew Scriptures. God will smite the cities of wicked people, but he will spare the cities with even 10 righteous men. The Psalm, in typical Davidian style, joyfully recounts the incessant Marco-Polo quality of the human relationship with God: We call, He answers. The second reading is Paul reminding us that God grants us the salvation we seek through the Son He sent. And Jesus himself tells us, in Luke's Gospel, both how to pray to God (with His legacy of The Lord's Prayer), and how to be persistent in our pleas, faithful in our reverence, consistent in our praise.

This relationship between God and humanity is a recurrent theme throughout all the Bible and all of Salvation History. And it calls to mind the Prophets of Old.

Frieze of the Prophets (West Wall) by John Singer Sargent. Boston Public Library, 1895.

Here is the West Wall portion of John Singer Sargent's Frieze of the Prophets, located in the Boston Public Library. The use of highlight and shadow in this piece is gorgeous, and it offers a visual metaphor for the Light and Dark in the messages of the Prophets.

In the piece, we see four prophets. First is Zephaniah, whose name means something along the lines of "YHWH Lies in Wait." Zephaniah, depicted in obvious frustration, clutching his breast and his head, the homes of heart and mind, had a very clear message: religious and moral corruption, and idolotry, warranted Divine punishment. YHWH lies in wait, indeed, to pass judgement. Repent, said Zephaniah, and be saved.

Frieze of the Prophets (Detail of Zephaniah and Joel) by John Singer Sargent. Boston Public Library, 1895.

Next to Zephaniah is an impressive depiction of Joel, whose name means "One to Whom Jehovah is God." Joel hides his face from the light of God, in shame for his people. Yet his throat and arms, instruments of God's work, are brightly illuminated. His message was a call to repentance, but with a hopeful promise of future blessings. Repent and be faithful, and you will not only be saved, but you will be showered with the joys of the Kingdom.

Frieze of the Prophets (Detail of Obadiah) by John Singer Sargent. Boston Public Library, 1895.

Crouched in distress, we find Obadiah, the "Servant of YHWH." Obadiah, too, had a hopeful message. He prophesied Ultimate Victory for the children of Israel, if they maintain their faith and show love to their neighbors. His message bears some resemblance to Luke's Gospel: While in Luke's Gospel, Jesus represents God as the neighbor or father from whom good things are solicited, Obadiah encouraged those who heard him to be the hands of God on earth, to act with kindness, indeed, with generosity. Look at Obadiah, looking something like the destitute beggar on the street, hair disheveled, clothing in ruins. Obadiah was a rich man, but he distributed all his wealth to the needy, in service of God, and ended up a poor man himself. Be generous with your fellow man, just as God is generous to you, and you will be rewarded.

Frieze of the Prophets (Detail of Hosea) by John Singer Sargent. Boston Public Library, 1895.

Finally, a gorgeous depiction of white, we see Hosea. Hosea, "Salvation is the Lord," also proclaimed an important message through example. Hosea preached that Israel was the Wife of God the Husband, something like a forbear of the "Church is the Bride of Christ" metaphor. Hosea's wife left him and slept with another man, but Hosea sought her out, forgave her, and took her back. In modern times, this would be a hard pill to swallow. Can you imagine the import of his actions in ancient times? And so his words paint the metaphor - Israel is the unfaithful wife, who wanders off and finds illicit and false gods to worship, and God is the forgiving husband, who finds her, forgives her, and welcomes her back. Sargent paints Hosea cocooned in white, the virtuous man, willing to restore virtue to his unfaithful wife. His face, shadowed, may show us that his thoughts are troubled and dark. But his message is clear: he manifests the generosity of God. *Sargent used the face of Major George Conrad Roller, a rather accomplished Golden Boy at the time, as a model for Hosea. Roller served in the Boer War and in World War I, was an accomplished artist, and Steeplechaser.

Sargent's expressive Frieze of the Prophets reminds us of the messages of great men and the trials they faced, carrying the weight of the world on their backs (much like Atlas, who is also located in the Boston Public Library.)

Atlas and the Hesperides by John Singer Sargent. Boston Public Library, 1922-25.

But perhaps most importantly, Jesus gives us the simple words to frame our pleas to God. Simple things can sometimes be the most beautiful. And we know from St. Augustine that "To sing well is to pray twice." So here is a little of both simple words and simple melody, with beautiful results. Steve Warner, Music Director at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana composed this version of The Lord's Prayer. Here is a performance of the Notre Dame Folk Choir from over 10 years ago. The message, and its beauty, are clear. Perhaps my favorite part of this clip is when Steve Warner says, "We are a Folk Choir, which means that our music doesn't belong to us. It belongs to you."