Seeing the Invisible

This was the theme for Srodowisko events in 2011.

First Event (July 3-8, 2011)

Team names: Team Leone, Team Rufino, Team Angelo, Team Masseo, Team Giacomina

Second Event (July 17-23, 2011)

Team names: Team Matilda (of Hackeborn), Team Gertrude (the Great), Team Hildegard (of Bingen), Team Julian (of Norwich)

Third Event (August 7-13, 2011)

Team names: Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, Rome

Seeing the Invisible

To see the invisible is to see God where He appears absent. We have to be able to see what others cannot—or do not know how to—see. Seeing the invisible is about seeing the paradox.

[Paradox: a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true; a situation, person, or thing that combines contradictory features or qualities.]

Blessing passes through what appears to be a curse.

In the Old Testament, the closer Israel draws near to the fulfillment of the promise, the smaller the signs seem to get—that’s because the signs must leave space for the reality. What we see is at a minimum. It’s like this in our lives, too.

At Horeb-Sinai, the phenomena associated with the Exodus theophanies pass by Elijah, but the Lord is not in them; instead, He comes to Elijah in a “voice of impalpable silence”. This is part of the paradox of the mystery.

Paradox

• The brother of Abraham dies, but his son continues to live; thus, he continues to live. Abraham lives, but he is dead because Sara is sterile.
• The stars, which are a sign of the blessing Abraham will receive, can only be seen in the dark.
• Abraham is always a foreigner in the land given to him by God.
• When Abraham extends his hand to sacrifice Isaac, Isaac continues to live, but he dies as a possession. For Abraham, Isaac is no longer “his”. Abraham must enter into true paternity—by renouncing Isaac as possession, he enters into this.
• Jacob steals the blessing of the firstborn, and so, he must marry the firstborn, Leah.
• In order to win, it is necessary to lose. Blessed but wounded, Jacob receives the name “God wins”. He won, but he lost.
• God does not accept sin; instead, he transforms it into grace.
• The burning bush does not burn—it is not consumed.
• Moses can only see the sign that confirms his mission (that he’s been sent to lead his people out of Egypt) when he’s completed it (after they have left Egypt).
• The Hebrew people enter the promised land without entering it because Moses remains behind. The land must be welcomed as a gift, never as conquest, so they must enter without entering.
• The desert is a place of absence and presence.

Icons

Eikon means image, likeness, portrait. It involves a process through which the artist enters into dialogue with the prototype. (Nes, 7) The prototype is made present by the icon.

In the late 10th century, Prince Vladimir of Kiev… “We only know that God dwells there among men and that their service is fairer than the cerimonies of other nations. We did not know whether we were in heaven or earth. We cannot forget such beauty.” (Martin, 21)

St. John Damascene: “How can the invisible be depicted? How does one picture the inconceivable? How can one draw what is limitless, immeasurable, infinite? How can a form be given to the formless? How does one paint the bodiless? How can you describe what is a mystery?” The Incarnation is the reason why making images is ok.

Colossians 1:15: He is the image (eikon) of the invisible God. John 14:8-9: Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” Philip wants an Exodus theophany, but he has the “eikon of the invisible God” in front of him and doesn’t realize it. We have to learn to see what’s in front of us and the reality that’s bigger than it. We have to learn a certain kind of “looking” and “seeing”.

Fourth Council of Costantinople (8th ecumenical): “What the written word proclaims through letters, iconography proclaims and represents through colors.” The icon is the gospel in line and color.

Christ gazes at us. He is completely present to us.

Writing Icons

Icons