Exploring Italy: Day 5 – Sculpted by God’s Spirit in Florence

Michelangelo’s David, a Renaissance masterpiece housed in the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence

One of Michelangelo’s Prisoners (or Slaves)

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo) and its famous red dome designed by Brunelleschi.

Evening view of Florence with the Arno River, bridges, and city lights at sunset.

A view of Florence’s Ponte Santa Trinita, one of several iconic bridges spanning the Arno River.

Study Travel to Italy Day 5

Scripture: John 14.16-26

Today we traveled to the beautiful city of Florence.  One of the places we visited was the Academia, or the art museum where art students come to learn. The Academia houses Michelangelo’s ‘David.’  It is an inspiring sculpture and we marveled at how Michelangelo was able to sculpt it.  He once said “Every block of stone has a sculpture in it and the sculptor’s role is to find it.”

Michelangelo created his sculptures by taking a block of marble and then calling forth what was inside with mallets, chisels and polishing one section at a time.  This was a different approach, only he used. Other sculpters would use a plaster model first.  In one of the pictures you can see the partially done sculpture. 

This is much like our lives, isn’t it?  God sees the perfection within us.  The Holy Spirit that came after Jesus works within us.  As the hymn says, “Spirit of the living God. Fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. “. It is the Spirit that is continually at work within us seeking to bring forth God’s perfected love within us.

Prayer:

O loving God, continue to fall afresh on us.  Continue to shape us in the perfection of your love.  Amen.