December 16th, 2025
“The First Christmas” by Jenny McLaughlin
Flawed, Passionate, and Raw
By Leah Coming
The novel My Name is Asher Lev portrays the development of an artist in 1950s New York City through his young adulthood. Asher Lev’s paintings are dark and sometimes violent. His art brings tension in his life because it begins to offend members of his Hasidic Jewish community, including his own parents.
I think of Lev in the winter (the snow outside the window in his Brooklyn apartment figures in his artistic development) and when I’m afraid that my idea for a novel, story, or poem will affront some mental projection of a Catholic gatekeeper. I wish I could say I’ve created anyway, but all too often this fear strangled my idea. In today’s Gospel, our loving teacher Jesus—a man who was not afraid to offend people, yet never offended Love—has liberating news for artists in this situation!
Jesus narrates the story of two sons:
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. (Matthew 21:28-31)
Two sons. Neither son wanted to work. The difference? The “I will not” son was honest about it, while the “Yes, sir” son lied to the father and to himself. It was the “I will not” son, the one who disrespected his father by refusing his direct request, who was obedient in the end.
Does it strike you as crazy that the son who started out so disrespectful—who said an outright “no”—was able to change his mind and obey? Jesus’s point may lie in this very progression. This parable suggests to me that a Step One of being honest about my desires and flaws creates the conditions for following God (Step Two).
Regarding creativity, I can apply the parable in this way: An honest first draft paves the way for a grace-filled second draft. Conversely, refusing to be honest in the first draft can block God’s work. Do I trust God enough to create a draft that’s as offensive as a disrespectful child? I believe that this parable gives Catholic artists permission to create first drafts that seem like slaps on the face to our typical idea of what is holy or “Catholic.” We can allow raw and unfiltered desires, obsessions, opinions, the memory of past sins, still-smarting grief, disappointments, temptations to despair, passions, and deeply hidden hopes to flow into our work. Honesty is the condition that will allow grace to move through our creativity.
Today, the Gospel is giving you permission: Create something flawed, passionate, and raw.
I want to end with a prayer exercise that helps me sit with my uncomfortable artistic ideas.
Walk with the Magi towards Bethlehem; as the Magi carry their gifts, carry the uncomfortable, potentially offensive idea that you’ve been avoiding. As you approach Bethlehem, talk with yourself about the idea. When you arrive and approach the Holy Family, give infant Jesus your idea as the Magi give their gifts. How does he react? Allow yourself and your idea to remain in his presence.
If it helps, speak with Creator God, Holy Spirit, or a member of the Holy Family about your idea.
May Jesus bless you as you bring your boldness to life.
Lean Coming is a middle school ELA and Social Studies teacher. Her home is South Bend, Indiana.
Jenny McLaughlin's faith is at the heart of her artistic practice. As a Catholic Artist and Illustrator, Jenny creates devotional artworks and prayer cards that are inspired by moments of prayer and contemplation. Through her Art, Jenny hopes to make the invisible visible — to reflect something of the peace, love, and beauty of God.