take this cup

“Cup” was made with conte and acrylic paint in 2010, and digitally edited in 2020. This image was published in the Emmaus Community’s booklet of meditations for the season of Lent.  Here is my reflection:
As I considered the scriptures for today’s reading, an early artwork of mine came to mind. What does it depict?
Might it be hands holding a cup of communion; or hands seeking to support a wound? Do we see wings speaking peace to grief? Perhaps it is an intimate detail of Christ’s suffering in Gethsemane. The image may be all of these things, just as it resonates with these words from each of the scriptures today:

“Listen to me, Lord….”
“Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.”
“But I trust in you, Lord;  I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands”
“Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”