Prophetic Vision—The Truth That Artists Tell
Noé Barnett’s original painting inspired by the themes of “The Tears of Things” by Richard Rohr.
Who are today’s prophetic voices? In Richard Rohr’s new book, “The Tears of Things,” we turn to the voices of the Hebrew prophets for guidance on how to see, hear, and recognize prophetic wisdom in our society today.
Throughout time, prophets have spoken through different mediums, and the message of change and disruption—or unification and restoration—has often arrived through rhythm, melody, color, and imagined forms. Making art is both a metaphor for the prophetic process and can be itself a prophetic process.
Grounded in this idea, the new trailer for “The Tears of Things” features an artist’s hands preparing, shaping, and bringing a painting to life—a visual reflection of the book’s themes. The featured artwork is by Noé Barnett, an Albuquerque-based artist known for his striking murals across New Mexico and the Southwest.
Imagery has a way of speaking beyond words, drawing us into the world of symbols. In the series of videos below, Noé Barnett takes us deeper into the painting at the heart of the book trailer, sharing the symbolism woven into his work and connecting it to “The Tears of Things.”
Watch as artist Noé Barnett explains his thinking behind the imagery of what he calls the “saint crying out to God.”
Explore the symbolism of the “crying saint” in the original painting by Noé Barnett.
As your eyes follow the painting downward, find the imagery of a hand, outstretched containing one small tear. The hand may look familiar—it’s modeled after a style of hand found in Orthodox iconography and sacred drawings. What does this image express about the sacred nature of tears?
In the next video, Noé explains more about the inspiration behind the hands you see in the painting.
Look closer at the symbolism of the “hand of blessing” in the original artwork by Noé Barnett.
If you look at the very bottom of the painting, you may see a golden calf, the Biblical symbol for misplacing our faith in material things. How does the calf fit into the larger message of prophetic wisdom?
In the next video, Noé explores why he created the image of the calf entwined with the natural elements bursting forth.
Find the deeper meaning in the symbolism of the golden calf in the original artwork by Noé Barnett.
And the shape of the painting—have you noticed it’s circular? Like many processes of nature and of our lives, transforming prophetic anger into loving action is cyclical. As anger arises, it inspires action and eventually tears—and then the process begins again.
In the final video, Noé explores the circular pattern of prophetic wisdom in his original artwork.
Explore the cycles of time, life, and transformation depicted in the original artwork by Noé Barnett.
As we walk together in the path of wisdom, let us continue to remain open to society’s truth tellers as they continue to offer important messages—through many mediums, art forms, and social media platforms. Let us remain open to the truths that burst forth in front of us.
In his first major work since “The Universal Christ,” New York Times bestselling author Richard Rohr offers a wholehearted and hope-filled model for the world today, grounded in the timeless wisdom of the Hebrew prophets. Preorder your copy of “The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage,” today, available March 4, 2025.