Today's Gospel in Art: Parable of the Wheat and Tares

The Parable of the Wheat and Tares, Engraved by Pieter Jalhea Furnius 1585, after Gerard van Groeningen, from Thesaurus Sacrarum Veteris et Novi Testamenti Series

Gospel of 27th July 2019 - Matthew 13: 24-30

Jesus put another parable before the crowds: 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, the darnel appeared as well. The owner's servants went to him and said, "Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?" "Some enemy has done this" he answered. And the servants said, "Do you want us to go and weed it out?" But he said, "No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn."'

Reflection on the Engraving

The engraving we are looking at was published in 1585....For the very first time in history, pictures and texts could be mass published and widely spread, almost as pamphlets. Both Protestants and Catholics used print making to get their message out to the masses. In that sense, I think that now we live in very similar times, where the internet for the first time since print making, is an equally revolutionary, powerful tool to reach literally everyone.

To read on see: www.christianart.today/daily-gospel-reading/124