FACES OF OUR FAITH QUEEN VASHTI read ESTHER 1-2:17 FACES OF OUR FAITH from theJOSEPH artist |OF HANNAH ARIMATHEA GARRITY Having the bravery and confidence to stand up to an inappropriate request from a superior is both paramount read LUKE 23:44-56 to the moral foundation of society, and extremely di!fromicult. We the each artist know deep| HANNAH down when GARRITY we are doing rightHow or wrong.heavy is the body of a dead man? Only with In thissuperhuman text, Vashti’s strength modesty would and this fearlessness pose be possible. resonated Yet, withJoseph me. I imagined of Arimathea her recognizingalone carries that Jesus’ her lifelesshusband’s body. demandHow did for heher do to it?show Why her did beauty he do toit? hisLuke drunken says, “He friends came oversteppedfrom the Jewish his bounds. town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God” (Luke 23:51). Is this Heract simple good reply, enough? “no,” is feared by the male “sages who knew the laws” (Esther 1:13). They advise the king to cast QueenHe was Vashti on outthe andcouncil. to replace He disagreed her with with a new the queen. majority. Why could he not stop the crucifixion from happening Herein Ithe have first represented place? Why Vashti did he dancing fail to convince alone. I seehis fellowher livingcouncil into her members? refusal withIs this grace good and deed beauty, enough exhibiting to make up independencefor such a monumental and strength failure? in her solitary righteousness. Or is Joseph of Arimathea at the right place at the right time? Is he able to dignify Jesus’ body a!er death? Does he play the vital role of the dissenter, picking up the pieces of the wrongs of the group? Does Joseph forward God’s plan for Jesus’ death and resurrection? How weighty a task. What superhuman strength must we Joseph of Arimathea | Hannah Garrity each have to forward God’s plan. Yet, God prepares us. We are ready. Joseph of Arimathea by Hannah Garrity © A Sanctified Art 43 | SANCTIFIED ART FACES OF OUR FAITH STUDY JOURNAL | JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA SANCTIFIED ART FACES OF OUR FAITH STUDY JOURNAL | QUEEN VASHTI | 20 I Dance Alone | Hannah Garrity 19 | SANCTIFIED ART FACES OF OUR FAITH STUDY JOURNAL | QUEEN VASHTI SANCTIFIED ART FACES OF OUR FAITH STUDY JOURNAL | JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA | 44 RESPOND write RESPONDDEBORAH Imaginewrite you are Joseph presenting a case before the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA Takecouncil a few forminutes why Jesus’ to sit in life quiet should meditation. be spared. Sit What do you look comfortably,say? How doclose you your make eyes, your clear argument? your head, What and personal focus on takingrisks long, do you steady take? breaths. Make your A!er case a few in minutes the space of silence,below. Takelook a few moments to gaze upon the artwork. Sit still in open your eyes and free-write anything that comes to Takequiet a few meditation moments as to you gaze observe upon the the artwork. visual qualities Sit still inof mind._____________________________________________________ How might God be speaking to you in this moment? quietwhat meditation you see: color,as you line, observe texture, the movement, visual qualities shape, of form. whatNow you take see: a color,deeper line, look. texture, What partsmovement, of the imageshape, are form. your __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Noweyes take most a deeper drawn look. to? What What parts parts of of the the image image did are you your _____________________________________________________ eyesoverlook? most drawn Now to? engage What your parts imagination. of the image What did you story do _____________________________________________________ overlook?you give Now to the engage figure? your imagination. If you were to __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ place yourself in this scene, where would you be and how _____________________________________________________ would youreflect interact with what surrounds you? _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ - Deborah was the fourth Judge of pre-monarchic _____________________________________________________ reflect Israel and the only female judge named in the bible. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ - Do you think Joseph is complicit in Jesus’ death? Or Analyze her leadership style. How does she guide the _____________________________________________________ do Israelitesyou think toward he did everythingvictory? within his power to do _____________________________________________________ the right thing? _____________________________________________________ - What parts of this story make you feel uncomfortable? _____________________________________________________ - According to Luke, Jesus’ acquaintances remain at a What parts surprise you? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ distance a!er his death, while Joseph goes to Pilate - Deborah’s song is one of the earliest samples to retrieve Jesus’ body and uses his own resources __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ of Hebrew poetry, perhaps dating back to the to prepare a proper burial. What did he risk by _____________________________________________________ 12th century BCE. What is the significance of her _____________________________________________________ performing these actions? leadership and authority? _____________________________________________________ - Name a public figure or someone you know who has _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ risked his/her reputation, wealth, or status to do the _____________________________________________________ right thing. _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Faces of Our Faith© A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ praypray GodPrepare of the ancientme, O God, world for and the Godweighty of the tasks here I mustand now, perform. silenceAmen. me into a trust as fierce as your love. Amen. 17 | SANCTIFIED ART FACES OF OUR FAITH STUDY JOURNAL | DEBORAH SANCTIFIED ART FACES OF OUR FAITH STUDY JOURNAL | JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA | 46 45 | SANCTIFIED ART FACES OF OUR FAITH STUDY JOURNAL | JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA SANCTIFIED ART FACES OF OUR FAITH STUDY JOURNAL | DEBORAH | 18.