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“A Brazilian Nativity”
The original painting for this scene is a mural in a church in Brazil. The artist had traveled to Europe to study the technique of writing icons using egg tempera. After learning the method, he returned to Brazil and adapted it to the culture of the people there.
Our eyes are immediately drawn to the cave-like opening. Mary, Joseph, the Christ child, and even the donkey, gaze back out at us. The darkness above gives way to the light coming from within the cave. This light is not an earthly light but a light from beyond. The peace and harmony present there are also of another kind. It is as though we are being invited into that sacred space.
The heart of God is beating there. Peace and Hope are entering the world and all of creation. It is the beginning of a new moment in time, a new creation. As at the Transfiguration, we can repeat Peter’s words: “Rabbi, it is good that we are here.” (Mark 9:5)
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph pray for us!
© 1994 Clyde Rausch, OMI
