Paul Rubens was a 16th century Flemish painter.
Rubens specialized in making altarpieces, portraits, landscapes, hunt scenes and history paintings of mythological and allegorical subjects. The catalogue of his works lists 1,403 pieces, excluding numerous copies made in his workshop.
Rubens was also quite a businessman. Unlike many other immortal artists, Rubens was fortunate enough to taste the fruits of success while he was still alive. He was highly commissioned for his work.
In fact he was so highly compensated that he opened what one writer called a painting factory. He hired a school of pupils, and started an assembly line! He made the initial drawings and the pupils filled them in. Then with a few master strokes, he completed the paintings.
You and I as followers of Jesus are much like the students in Rubens’ school. We are not masters. We simply fill in the sketches that Jesus has already begun for us in our life.
When we have done all we can, Jesus provides the finishing touches to produce a masterpiece. To understand our role in such a way relieves us of the burden of being sufficient in our own abilities to do what Jesus has called us to do.
We are Jesus’ students, his followers, his apprentices, especially this Lent. Jesus is the Master when it comes to our own life.
Thanks to King Duncan
What has Jesus started for YOU, that YOU are working on and hope to finish with Jesus’ help?
GOD CREATED YOUR LIFE. AND YOU’RE IN CHARGE TO COLOR IT. MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL!
