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Michelangelo’s David is recognized as one of the most renowned sculptures in history for its size, boldness, and unique perspective.
For example, most artists depict David after he defeats Goliath.
But Michelangelo shows him before the battle begins. To Michelangelo, the story is about David’s faith; David reminds us to be bold, knowing that all things are possible with God on our side.
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Secondly, David was chiseled out of a discarded block of marble. While other artists abandoned the project, Michelangelo said afterwards, “I saw the angel in the marble and chiseled away until I set him free.”
David reminds us there’s an “angel” – the presence of the divine – within all of us.
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Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Damian of Molokai, who was a modern version of Michelangelo.
In 1864, he left his family and his native Belgium for the leper colony of Molokai, an isolated island located in the Pacific.
At that time, little was known about leprosy; only that it deformed your body, was incredibly painful, and eventually led to your death.
Many who contracted leprosy were forced out of their homes and sent to the island of Molokai, where they died in despair.
Father Damian was so moved by their story that he moved there himself to remind this hopeless colony of humans that they, too, had an angel living within. Jesus died for them, too.
Much could be said about Damian’s daily sacrifices, and how his own life ended, but he, much like King David thousands of years before, reminds us of two things:
Nothing is impossible with God.
And within all of us, there is the presence of the divine.
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Image credits: (1) TheHumanist.com (2) Catholic World Report (3) Blessed Mart