Today's Gospel in Art - Jesus went off to a lonely place and prayed

Christ on the Mount of Olives, by Josef Untersberger 1912 © Christian Art

Gospel of 13th January 2021 - Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon's mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.

That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.

In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, 'Everybody is looking for you.' He answered, 'Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.' And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.

Reflection on the Painting

In our Gospel passage today we read what the secret is to Jesus' ministry: prayer. After we read about Jesus healing people around Him and casting out unclean spirits, we read that 'in the morning, long before dawn, Jesus got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there.' This is the key to Jesus' ministry on earth: spending time in prayer with His Heavenly Father.

The Gospels are filled with accounts of Jesus praying: after the feeding of the 5,000 (Mat 14:23) which we covered a few days ago, He went to pray up in the hills; after He had healed a leper (Luke 5:16) we read 'But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed'; before Jesus chose the 12 apostles (Luke 6:12) we read 'Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God'. At all the significant moments of His life, Jesus prayed.

Our painting by Austrian artist Josef Untersberger, shows Christ praying, overlooking the City of Jerusalem. The artist purposely used a limited colour palette with only greens (symbolic for new beginnings), blues (symbolic for calmness and harmony) and purples for Jesus' cloak (conveying the royality of Christ the King). A very soft glowing light contour is emanating from Jesus. He is barefooted, a sign of humility and also conveys He has been there for a long time… praying.

LINKS

Today's story: https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/668
Christian Art - https://www.christian.art/index.php