Andrew entitled this reflection "For Us Men and For Our Salvation" but in his email providing a summary of what it was about he wrote that it a reflection on the question "What is love?". You'll see that it is when you read what he has to say and that is why we've chosen "What is love?" as the main title. Do you know the story behind the artist Albrecht Dürer's famous portrait of his brother's hands raised in prayer?

A parable of brotherly love…

In the fifteenth century in a small German village two brothers of a family of eighteen children are seen walking into the forest having just attended Sunday Service. The young men, Albrecht and Albert Dürer both have artistic talent and ambitions, but as the financial resources in their family are strained they have decided on a secret plan to, in turn, educate both at the famous art academy in Nürnberg. The decision as to who will go first to study will be decided by a simple toss of a coin — the brother who wins will go to Nürnberg, the brother who loses will go to work deep in the mines in order to support the studies of the other brother. The roles will then later be reversed. Shaking hands, one of the brothers throws the coin high into the air; it spins and falls to the ground. Providence has now spoken. Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) would travel to Nürnberg to begin four years of study. Within a few months of his arrival, his teachers and the wider community of Nürnberg will begin to applaud the genius in their midst. During this time Albert will labour long hours in the cold darkness of a mine.

Four years pass and the triumphant Albrecht returns home — the pride of his village and his family. A dinner has been set for the entire family to celebrate his homecoming. When the time comes to propose a toast, Albrecht interjects, knowing that his father seeks to extol him on his acclaimed artistic achievements. Rising from the table, Albrecht proposes a different toast, in honour of his brother Albert, his hero, and exclaims that he has returned home to fulfil his part of the agreement.

The Dürer table becomes hushed, and no eyes dare look toward either Albrecht or Albert. Silence rules the scene until in tears Albert stands. Holding up the cup of wine in two hands, Albert reveals to Albrecht that every finger has been broken in a mine accident and that he is now incapable of holding a pen or a paint brush.

Albert has sacrificed his artistic future in the hope of his brother's success.

Albrecht breaks down — and leaves the room. A little while later Albrecht returns with tear stained cheeks, and asks Albert to follow him into the next room. There, Albert is encouraged by his brother to stretch his hands together as best he can. Albrecht thus proceeds to paint a memorial to his brother's love — a painting that has now become universally known as "The Praying Hands", arguably the most famous hands ever sketched in the history of the visual arts.

Selfr portrait of the artist Albrecht Dürer		The famous hands of his brother Albert Dürer

In a world where altruism is so often scoffed at by cynics, the story of the Dürer brothers points toward the power of love being so great even to the point of giving up one's whole life for the sake of the person who is loved. Here in essence is the great message of Christianity — of Christ being the supreme altruist, giving Hs life not only for those who loved Him — but shedding his life-blood for those who hated Him and wished Him dead. Of all the fundamental tenets of Christianity and of Christ's life, this is the most difficult to fathom and to follow; to love one's enemies and to do good to those who hate you.

A God who is a fool…

St John Chrysostom

Cynics will tell us that Christians not only have an unseen God — but a God who is a fool, someone willing to pour Their precious life in order to ease the burden of others, a God willing to sacrifice themselves so as to alleviate someone else's suffering, even those who the cynics consider are undeserving of mercy. To the cynics, Christians are fools to follow such a God and mimic not only His life, but His death as well.

Oddly enough these cynics have a Saint who concurs with them — up to a point at least. In the words of Saint John Chrysostom, each of us must risk being perceived as fools in the eyes of the world, in order to win for ourselves the crown that was first made for us as God's children. Chrysostom addresses his audience:

"Only a fool would attempt to change the world with a simple message of love and peace. So we can conclude that Jesus was a fool. Only fools would agree to follow such a man, and then continue his mission even after he had been killed. So we can conclude that the apostles are fools. Only fools would take seriously the message which a bunch of fools were preaching, and accept that message. So we can conclude that all of us are fools. All this is hardly surprising. God did not choose a wise philosopher to proclaim the Gospel, but a humble carpenter. And for his apostles he chose fisherman and tax collectors. Can we claim to be any better? Of course not. Even those among us who have been educated know that in relation to the Gospel our education is worthless. So let us happily admit we are fools. Then we will happily commit ourselves to trying to change the world. Yet weren't those apostles cowardly and timid? Aren't we equally afraid of trying to persuade strangers to change their lives? Doesn't the crucifixion of Christ give us ample reason to be frightened? Yes, but his Resurrection gives us superhuman courage". (Chrysostom, 1996, p. 52)

In the eyes of the world it would have been wiser for Albert Dürer to perhaps steal or kill in order to gain money for his studies, or maybe to have reneged on his agreement with Albrecht, or to have despised his brother's success. But this is the way of selfishness and not love. We suffer as Christians, not because we want to suffer, but in order to express our higher nature to the world; to reveal through our suffering that there is a higher power and reality than mere self-interest, and that each of us are all called beyond our very selves not only to love one another as we love ourselves, but to attempt to love one another as Christ loves us — beyond limitations.

In essence Albrecht Dürer's "Praying Hands" expresses the purity of fraternal love — yet it is the Cross of Christ that reveals the power of love to transcend all boundaries — and that is the summum bonum — the glorious and 'foolish' message of Christianity.

Photo Credit:
The photo used in the headline and footer graphics is of Zoltan, Amanda's music producer. It's one of the photos I'm using in the design of his new website which you can see a sample of at www.zoltan.com.au. The pair of them have been out at Holy Cross College in Ryde all day today coaching the whole school in the singing for a big liturgy coming up at Homebush Bay on 17th March to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Patrician Brothers. Over the next few weeks they're progressively visiting all the Patrician Colleges coaching the students in the music for this liturgy. …Brian Coyne

©2008 Dr Andrew Thomas Kania

[Andrew Kania's Archive]