Creating Hope: Friday
Friday March 19, 2021
Created by Nicky Guttierez
Image from: https://www.orthodoxchristiansupply.com/products/the-labor-of-the-holy-family
Matthew 13:55 (NRSV)
“Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?”
Devotion
Jesus in this reading is identified as the son of a carpenter, which meant that Jesus would have been taught his father’s, Joseph’s, profession. The Koine Greek word for this profession is tevktonoz (tektonos). Traditionally, the word’s typical range of meaning is translated as carpenter but there is more to the word than that. It can encompass stone and metal and has the connotation of a craftsman. Jesus could have possibly been more than a carpenter. Jesus being a craftsman ties into the theme of Creating Hope because it reaffirms one of God’s attributes: creativity. God is creative. Like a craftsman, God created the universe and us. Throughout the Bible, God is described as a master craftsman with us being God’s favorite workmanship. So, it was fitting for Christ to be a craftsman when in the incarnation because of God’s creativity. Since we are made in the image of God, we too are creative. God has created humanity to be creators like God, and so we become co-creators with God. We participate in creation and God encourages us to create beautiful things like God did. God is a God of beauty and wonder, and humans are inspired by beauty and wonder. As a writer, I wish to show beauty with my words just like a singer, painter, sculptor, or dancer would with their mediums. These works of art are offered up as sacrifices to the Lord and will be remembered in the Lord’s house for eternity.
Reflection: Meditate on the icon of The Labor of the Holy Family. Go and create art for we are created in the image of our creator and we are co-creators in this world. Amen.
Prayer
Good and gracious God, help us to find hope in this weary season. Amen.
