“Towards Victory” — art on the theme of Jesus’ Passion

Through March and till mid-April the art gallery in our church features art that focuses on themes of Jesus’ passion. The exhibition is titled “Towards Victory.”

On this Maundy Thursday of Holy Week, I’m sharing my contribution to the “Towards Victory” exhibition.

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Artist Statement:

My saddest Easter was the year I miscarried our unborn baby just before Good Friday. After fighting for weeks to preserve that little life, what a dashed hope! Yet one year later, at the same time of year, I held our newborn baby girl in my arms and realized that if our first baby had lived this one would never have been born.

The winter to spring season—the season of Lent to Easter in our hemisphere – illustrates beautifully the coming to life of what appears dead. From sprouting seeds and bulbs to the greening of trees, it is a time of hope.

Lily

One must have a mind open to miracle
disregard the parch-fissured
hoary-frozen earth

overlook how lifeless the bulb
freckled with age, pale as a corpse
root hairs sparse and white.

One must nourish seeds of faith
believe the dull
drop-patter of spring

will pass through nether-world walls
and summon to green-pierce blackness
reach for light.

So, on the third day
Another burst the bud of grave clothes
to pure and eternal blooming.

• Violet Nesdoly

First published in the Stations of the Cross – Crossings booklet, as part of the March to April 2022 “Stations of the Cross-A Journey to Easter Arts Exhibition” in Toronto ON, Canada.

Easter is the climax of our Hope in Joy as we celebrate the greatest Life of all—Eternal Life, ours through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

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Interested in viewing the rest of the gallery? You can download a pdf document on this page to view all the art in our “Towards Victory” exhibition (click on the “Download” button at the top of the page).