Tisha Woo’s Reviews > Jesus through Medieval Eyes: Beholding Christ with the Artists, Mystics, and Theologians of the Middle Ages > Status Update
Like flag
Tisha’s Previous Updates
Tisha Woo
is on page 69 of 194
"What kinds of vulnerabilities, transformations, pains, and pleasures does one face in a divine marriage in its fullness?" (p.58)
"In loving Christ as our lover, we become more human, like the Son of Man himself...we are more open to the vulnerabilities and glories of being embodied souls. The way of the Lover is the way of the Cross. Beyond the cross is resurrection and the mystery of true union." (p.65)
— Oct 19, 2025 01:02PM
"In loving Christ as our lover, we become more human, like the Son of Man himself...we are more open to the vulnerabilities and glories of being embodied souls. The way of the Lover is the way of the Cross. Beyond the cross is resurrection and the mystery of true union." (p.65)
Tisha Woo
is on page 48 of 194
Ch 3 Christ as Lover:
-seeing Christ through language of embodied intimacy an antidote to coercion/depersonalization.
-Gregory the Great: “...we are provoked to reflect on the mercy of God...for he goes so far as to use the language of our shameful loves I order to set our heart on fire with a holy love." (p 48)
-medieval mindset, Christ is lover of the soul (not a bride/church metaphor)
— Oct 19, 2025 12:49PM
-seeing Christ through language of embodied intimacy an antidote to coercion/depersonalization.
-Gregory the Great: “...we are provoked to reflect on the mercy of God...for he goes so far as to use the language of our shameful loves I order to set our heart on fire with a holy love." (p 48)
-medieval mindset, Christ is lover of the soul (not a bride/church metaphor)
-“Christ in Majesty” in the art of the early Middle Ages - Christ as divine king more central to contemporary faith than Christ as suffering man.
-Doom Paintings - prominent in size and placement, a scriptural lesson to a less literate society. A portrait of damnation as equal opportunity, bringing comfort along with fear (for the peasant under feudal yoke). Christ’s judgement trumps earthly powers. Paintings project both horizontal and vertical relationships, directing attention to choices in human community right now.
-medieval understanding was that justice is always relational, not abstract or extended only through law.
-medieval mystery plays: doomsday paintings come to life as portrayed by guild members (not pro actors). Christ aligned with the poor and suffering.
-fear as motivator more natural to medieval folks than us. “Holy fear is a wholesome fear that aids us to avoid becoming (hardened) people of flint.” p 33. Fear is transformed into humility towards others and God.
Wound displays-the cost of Jesus’s justice and mercy is his own life. Also points to his unchanging state - Jesus the Judge went willingly to the cross. “He will do everything possible to love us.” p.40