“We’re missing something—maybe it’s the beauty of those feet,” Jack suggests, referring to the grotesque, mangled feet of Christ depicted in the Isenheim Altarpiece. He asks, “What happens if we stay in that brokenness?” This is what we explore in this special “reprise” of episode 6 (The Isenheim Effect); this is the second half of that episode, beginning right when Jack started telling stories about sheep. This is one of our favorite episodes, and we thought it appropriate to share (again) right after Easter. Also, Seth reads the wonderful poem “April Prelude” by Maya Venters (be sure to check out her Substack!). For context, we are talking about The Isenheim Altarpiece, which is a triptych by Matthias Grunewald.
Chapters
00:00 The Covenant with Domestic Animals
03:44 The Significance of Cutting the Throat of a Lamb
11:04 Reflections on Tradition and Ritual
12:19 The Significance of Blood and Sacrifice
13:01 The Intertwining of Memory and Art
13:52 The Holiness of Work - "April Prelude" by Maya Venters
15:18 The Cycle of Life and Death
16:18 The Theology of the Cross
17:57 The Beauty in Brokenness
19:02 The Power of Identification and Empathy
20:54 The Tension of Failure and Love
22:13 The Frustration with Superficiality
23:47 The Brokenness and Failure in Life
25:17 The Paradox of Brokenness and Beauty
26:31 The Theologian of the Cross
27:43 The Grotesque and Contorted Nature of Pain
29:04 The Mystery of the Cross
30:29 The Healing Power of Brokenness
31:37 The Unique Beauty in Each Person's Brokenness
32:27 The Proportions and Power of Art
33:42 Resting in Brokenness
36:41 The Truth and Weight of Brokenness
39:47 Finding Healing in the Truth
41:15 Resting in the Brokenness of the Cross
43:34 The Importance of Staying in the Brokenness
44:45 A Final Blessing
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