Vignettes 2

THE LAST SUPPER

Have you really known someone well, only to find that time and circumstances completely changed them? When making selections for a POW rescue team, I sought those who were heroes in Vietnam, just seven years before, assuming they had the demonstrated experience to fearlessly face the enemy once again. Fortunately, I had time and facilities to test them before we crossed the Mekong River. The results was shocking. The cadre of warriors were, by in large, reduced to a limping complaining contingent of has-beens. A Special Operations, Medal of Honor recipient turned out to be an emotional basket-case, totally conquered by drugs and alcohol. Another Vietnam great turned into mush once we landed in Laos. What had happened? At what point did men with god-like qualities become a fraction of their past selves? Consider Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, et al. Is there an American who didn‘t pray that no closet-skeletons would be exposed upon Jimmy Stewart’s death. America needs heroes, but almost everyone of note is marked by flaws. Please ponder this little known, but true story relating to one of the world’s greatest paintings - and think of yourself.

The Last Supper was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci within a contract period of seven years. The faces of Jesus Christ and His 12 Apostles were each painted from carefully selected living models. The face of Christ was chosen first after observing thousands of candidates for a countenance unaffected by sin. Finally, "just the right look" was found. The one man with the perfect angelic look who would pose for the face of the Messiah was only 19. The master artist took six months to perfect his version of the only begotten of God. During the next six-years Da Vinci worked on filling in around the sublime likeness of his center-piece. He personally selected models for each of the Apostles, leaving Judas Iscariot as the final fix to the masterpiece.

For weeks Da Vinci searched in vain for what his mind’s eye saw in the features and character of the betrayer of Jesus Christ. The word was spread throughout the whole of Italy for a man with a hard callous face, marred by scars of vicious greed and deceit. Finally, word came from Rome that such a reviling personage was to be found there within the dungeon for condemned criminals. The artist left for the prison immediately. As the creature emerged in rags and chains, Da Vinci could see he was indeed exactly right to represent the miserable soul of the one who would betray the Son of God for $16.95 in silver at today’s prices. Dark, swarthy and lean, with a tangle of unkept matted hair obscuring deep-set beady black eyes and crooked nose, thin lips were drawn tightly across filthy rotting teeth. Da Vinci sought and received a special stay of execution from the king. The model of complete ruin was to be released under guard to be taken to Milan until the artist had captured on canvas the unique distortions needed to finish one of the world‘s greatest paintings.

For six-months the prisoner sat for Da Vinci at appointed hours each day as he transferred from still life the dynamics of Christ’s farewell to His beloved followers. As he finished the last stroke, Da Vinci turned to the guards and said, "I have finished. You may remove the prisoner." At that moment the Judas look-alike rushed and grasped the robes of the master: "Oh Da Vinci look at me! Do you not know who I am?" The master maker of portraits scrutinized intently the face he had concentrated on every day for six months, without any recognition. "No! I have never seen you in my life until you were brought before me out of the dungeon in Rome!"

Lifting his sunken eyes toward heaven, the condemned man cried, "Oh God, have I fallen so low?" Then turning his face to the painter, he lamented: "Leonardo Da Vinci, look at me again, for I am the same man you painted just seven years ago as the figure of Christ!"

It just takes one bad turn complicated with pride, and/or other deadly sins to lead us along a wayward path to where not even a Mother would recognize her own child. Don’t focus on what was, look rather to who you are now, and likely will become. .

Purchase back issues here

More vignettes from past issues