Tend My Sheep
By Kevin Pawlowski
Artist Statement:
…Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” John 21:15-18
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This painting, “Tend My Sheep”, is an invitation to the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church and laity to reflect on whether or not we are welcoming and loving enough to LGBT+ Catholics, our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’” Luke 15: 4-6
About the Artist:
Kevin Pawlowski is the owner of Paradise Found Studio LLC (www.paradisefoundstudio.com), a faith-based online studio, which sells his original works and reproductions. He creates art of religious subjects in oil paint and mosaic glass and is available for commission work. Most recently, Kevin finished an oil painting of Maximillian Kolbe, and published the catechist activity book “Comic Guide to The Holy Rosary”. He has been creating art for about 40 years, and has studied with Grand Central Atelier and Watts Atelier. He lives near Atlanta with Lisa, his wife of 32 years, and they have two adult children, Catherine and Kyle.