Lent Guided Workshop: Valley of the Dry Bones

The Lenten season, in all its emotional complexity, calls us toward one another. The themes of betrayal, death and then redemption and new life – are more than enough for one person to hold.

That’s why we at the Heritage Program would like to offer that you hold them together.

To guide you in this practice, we offer the below exercise – a Visio Divina of the Valley of the Dry Bones illumination from The Saint John’s Bible. We hope this communal Visio Divina will help you and others dive deeper into the meaning and themes of Lent.

Step 1: Start with the Scripture passage.

Read the Scripture passage, Ezekiel 37: 1-14, slowly. If you’re in a group, read it out loud. Notice if there is a word, phrase or image that stands out to you and reflect on this as a group. Which emotional responses arise?

Step 2: Ideate and imagine.

What do you think this image might look like? What elements from the passage are essential to include? What colors would you use if you were invited to paint this illumination? Why?

Ponder: How would you let someone know that God is in your image?

Step 3: What do you see?

Now, pull up the illumination in front of you. Start with this very basic question: What do you see?

During this phase of the exercise, it will be tempting to draw conclusions about what certain motifs and imagery mean. Try your best to stay where you are in the exercise. Really focus on what is in front of you and take it all in.

This step is especially important if you have folks in your group for which it is difficult or impossible to see. Be sure that your descriptions are just that – descriptive – and that you are not yet making meaning out of what you see. Simply describe what is in front of you.

Give yourself and your group a few minutes in this phase. Be sure to really listen to everyone. All of our eyes see things differently, and you might notice something you wouldn’t have on your own.

Valley of the Dry Bones, Donald Jackson, © 2005 The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, Copyright 1993, 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Step 4: What are you curious about?

Before we move fully into interpretation, ask yourself and your group: What are you curious about? Get very inquisitive here. Some common questions include:

Why did the artist choose these colors?

Why does that motif show up multiple times?

Which areas of the illumination have gold foiling? Why?

Say every question aloud for everyone to hear. Your curiosity will compound the more you hear others’ questions. Don’t try to answer them just yet. Simply offer them to yourself and the group.

Step 5: Meaning-Making

Now that your group has collectively established what you see and fostered curiosity, allow yourself to make meaning. The first step is to let the connections start flowing. Is there one part of the illumination that reminds you of something in your life? How about in other works of art you’ve seen?

If you are having trouble, pick one part of the illumination that you identified in step one and begin there. What emotions are coming up for you? Remember, every brushstroke and choice are intentional. Why do you think the artist did what they did? What does it mean to you? There are no wrong answers. Are any personal memories arising as you look at this artwork?

It is also helpful to choose one part of the illumination and ask yourself: How does this contribute to my understanding of the story behind this illumination? Did you learn something new, or form a connection you hadn’t before? You are encouraged to read the Scripture again. Do any passages mean something new to you now? Are you noticing anything that you hadn’t before? What is striking you?

Let yourself have a fluid conversation as a group. Remember to lead with curiosity. If you and another loved one see something differently, ask them why they see it the way they do. Try to understand. Once again, there are no wrong answers.

Step 6: Lenten Reflections

Since it is the Lenten season, you might already be contemplating themes of sacrifice, redemption, life, death, repentance, renewal, and more. What words and concepts are arising in your mind at this stage in the exercise? How do they connect to where you are personally in your Lenten journey? Do any of your conclusions from Step Three make you consider the story and themes of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection in a new light?

Even if you don’t have a fully formed conclusion, say your thoughts and considerations aloud with the group – and don’t forget to listen to others.

Treasure Hunt: Expand Your Scope

You’re not alone in your analysis and prayer over this illumination; many artists, scholars, theologians and laypersons before you have spent time interpreting this illumination. Here are some of their offerings.

Did you notice what they noticed? How is their interpretation different from yours?

Human suffering – In a Heritage Program blog post dated March 31, 2022, the author writes, “Valley of the Dry Bones: Donald Jackson’s rendering of Ezekiel 37: 1-14 re-imagines the gap between the ways humans have invented to crush both one another and the earth and the Divine promise never to be parted from us.” Do you agree with this interpretation? Did you draw a similar conclusion?

The skulls and images of human tragedy – In the book The Art of the Saint John’s Bible, author Susan Sink writes, “The skulls are based on photos taken of genocide and war in Armenia, Rwanda, Iraq, and Bosnia. The piles of broken glass suggest the broken windows caused by car bombs…. At the center is a pile of eyeglasses, a well-known image from the Holocaust. […] For Donald Jackson the waste of ecological disaster is part of the larger image…. The three automobile hulls are one sign of the spiritual death of society.” (Sink, 190-1). How does the knowledge that many of the images in the illumination are based on real images of human tragedy influence your analysis of the illumination?

A splash of oil – The University of Portland views this illumination with an optimistic lens. It writes in a October 29, 2013 blog post, “Yet throughout the image we find glimmers of hope. Note the splash of oil on the right-hand page, with a rainbow sheen connecting the dry bones to the exultant rainbow at the top. Remember the gold squares from the Creation image? They are present here, indicating divine watchfulness.”

Seven menorahs – In the same blog post, The University of Portland goes on to cite Susan Sink, writing, “Finally, note the seven menorahs, a sign throughout The Saint John’s Bible of creation and covenant. Sink notes: ‘Here the seven gold and black bars are intersected by arcs that end in points of light. Seven menorahs with seven points of light rise out of and transcend the wreckage and wrongdoings of humankind….” (Sink, vol. 2, p. 83). What does this mean to you?

Hope and God’s presence – James Gumataotao, Theology Teacher and Campus Minister at Cristo Rey Boston High School contemplated the color story of the illumination in a blog post by The University of Portland. Gumataotao writes, “The bright colors that run across the top represent hope. Hope in the struggles and trials of our own realities, a hope that goes beyond death. Along with the golden squares throughout the image, these represent the presence of our creator God. One can also see that even among the dry bones we find these squares; not only does God have power over death but, even in death God is present. Let this image remind us of the call that echoes not only through these days of Lent, but every day.”

An Invitation: Share Your Reflections

We invite you to share your interpretations of this illumination on social media. Share a photo of your family completing the exercise and tag @SaintJohnsBible on Twitter (X), Facebook (Meta), and Instagram to be featured on The Saint John’s Bible social platforms.