Artwork
by the Benedictine Sisters of Turvey Abbey, faithfully reproduced by Brother
Richard Roy S.C.
Banner
dimensions are 116cm x 61cm (46" x 24")
In the
beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless
void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept
over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2)
The next section shows the Ark, a symbol of new birth and hope for humanity:
At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and
sent out the raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were dried up from
the earth. Then he sent out the dove from him, to see if the waters had
subsided from the face of the ground; but the dove found no place to set its
foot, and it returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face
of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took it and brought it into the
ark with him. He waited another seven days, and again he sent out the dove from
the ark; and the dove came back to him in the evening, and there in its beak
was a freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters had subsided
from the earth. Then he waited another seven days, and sent out the dove; and
it did not return to him anymore. (Genesis 8:6-12)
The next section shows two key events in salvation history; God parts the
waters of the Red Sea and leads the Israelites through dry-shod and Moses
strikes the rock to give the people water:
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back by
a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters
were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters
forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. (Exodus 14:21-22)
The people quarrelled with Moses, and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ Moses
said to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?’ But the
people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and
said, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and
livestock with thirst?’ So Moses cried out to the LORD, ‘What shall I do with
this people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ 5The LORD said to Moses, ‘Go
on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in
your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing
there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will
come out of it, so that the people may drink.’ Moses did so, in the sight of
the elders of Israel. 7He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the
Israelites quarrelled and tested the LORD, saying, ‘Is the LORD among us or
not? (Exodus 17:2-7)
Just above the Israelites walking through the Red Sea, the artist has
depicted part of the Prophet Ezekiel’s vision of the Temple. Water flows from
the right side of the Temple and all who come to that water are saved.
Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there, water was flowing
from below the threshold of the temple towards the east (for the temple faced
east); and the water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold
of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north
gate, and led me round on the outside to the outer gate that faces towards the
east; and the water was coming out on the south side. (Ezekiel 47:1-2)
The central panel shows the Risen Christ, the source of living water. Christ
is baptised by John in the Jordan: In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of
Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up
out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like
a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with
you I am well pleased. (Mark 1:9-11)
The final section depicts the vision of the heavenly Jerusalem from the Book
of Revelation: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will
give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. (Revelation 21:6)
Wall
Hanging Banner: Dye
sublimation printing on a 100% close weave, natural feel polyester material
with dowling, tulip wood end caps and gold effect hanging cord. Fire
retardant: BS5867/Type B DIN4102. An extra depth of approx. 12" should
be allowed when measuring to allow for the hanging cord. A sample of the
material can be supplied upon request.
*On
orders of 3 of more wall hanging banners, from our extensive range, a 10%
discount will be applied at time of invoice.
Please allow
10 to 14 days for delivery.