What if God feels distant—even when you pray? Through scripture, communion, and Salvador Dalí’s mystical Sacrament of the Last Supper, this session gently explores how divine presence often comes through mystery. Come with your questions, and stay open to how God might be reaching for you in silence and symbol.

John 14:18-21 & Luke 22:14-20

In this episode of Art and Prayer, Rev. Rob McPherson leads us through a contemplative experience of Salvador Dalí’s The Sacrament of the Last Supper, a surreal yet spiritually evocative depiction of Christ’s presence in Communion. Often in prayer, we long for God and feel the ache of divine silence—but as Rob reminds us, God’s nearness is not measured by our ability to perceive it. The Eucharist becomes a tangible anchor in those moments, helping us encounter God through bread, wine, and sacred ritual.

We begin with Luke’s account of the Last Supper before turning to the painting itself. Guided by art historian Professor Michael Anthony Novak, we explore the mystical imagery Dalí uses to shift our focus from history to presence—from a remembered meal to a divine encounter. Transparent figures, a glowing Christ, and a geometric setting all draw us into a spiritual realm where heaven and earth meet. Dalí’s Jesus gestures upward toward a massive, invisible figure of God—a divine mystery too vast for any canvas to hold—while the apostles, mirrored and meditative, direct their attention to the Eucharist laid on the table.

As scripture from John 14 is layered over repeated viewings of the painting, we are invited into a dialogue between text and image, between what we see and what we feel. What detail catches your eye? What word or phrase stirs something within you? Even in silence, even in stillness, God speaks—and this episode helps you attune your heart to listen.