Pieta

Part of the When Hands became Temples series, featuring this drawing, the Elevation of the Eucharist, and When the Hands Became a Temple. The series was inspired after hearing a meditation reflecting on a special moment in the Nativity; St. Joseph, foster father of our redeemer, held the Christ child for the first time. This is the moment when God allowed himself to be touched by man, to be taken into the arms of his own creation, to be held near and dear. It was at this moment that St. Joseph's humble carpenter hands became a temple for the living God. 

Thinking of other moments where God allowed himself to be held by the hands of man, Our Mother's sorrowful Pieta came to mind. With such a contrast to the joy of the Nativity, this drawing takes place in the moment after Christ is taken down from the cross and given back to his grieving Mother. Just as she gave her "yes" to God, giving her the special privilege to be His temple for nine months, Mary gave her "yes" to this moment, where God asked her to be a temple for Christ again, only this time, to receive Him in His death. 

A couple of details to pay attention to is: Mary faded into the background, and how large Jesus's hands are. To show Mary's great humility, how she always wishes to bring us to her Son and exemplify him over herself, she hides herself into the background as if to say "Less of me Lord, more of You." While this piece is about Mary's hands becoming a temple for Christ, it is in Christ's pierced hands, large enough to hold the entire world's sin, that we are redeemed. Just as Our Blessed Mother holds Christ no matter the joy or pain she experiences, Christ longs to hold us, no matter the weight or cost to Himself.  

May we all have the strength to say "yes" to God in every moment, especially in our grief, and to allow ourselves the humility to be held by Him and our Mother.