Today's Gospel in Art - When Jesus reached the official's house and saw the flute-players

The Four Strings of a Violin, by Edward Okun © Arizona State University Art Museum

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 5th July 2021 - Matthew 9:18-26..

While Jesus was speaking, up came one of the officials, who bowed low in front of him and said, 'My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.' Jesus rose and, with his disciples, followed him. Then from behind him came a woman, who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, 'If I can only touch his cloak I shall be well again.' Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, 'Courage, my daughter, your faith has restored you to health.' And from that moment the woman was well again.

When Jesus reached the official's house and saw the flute-players, with the crowd making a commotion he said, 'Get out of here; the little girl is not dead, she is asleep.' And they laughed at him. But when the people had been turned out he went inside and took the little girl by the hand; and she stood up. And the news spread all round the countryside.

Reflection on the Painting

In today's reading I was particularly struck by the start of paragraph 2: 'When Jesus reached the official's house and saw the flute-players…' Who were these flute-players and why are they mentioned? The Jewish people at the time, even the poorest of them, were required to have two flute-players and one mourning woman at the door of the house as soon as possible after a person died. The musicians and the woman would alternate between music and lamentations. The main reason was to try to prevent the departure of the soul from the dead body, so that it would return and give life again to the person. Or the music and noise would be made to awaken the person from what might be a deep sleep. Assessing exactly when someone had died wasn't always as clinically straightforward as it is nowadays.

The music produced outside the house of the official was basically an outcry of grief. Music and singing are still important nowadays at funerals. Music plays a vital role in those moments of saying goodbye to a loved one, as it can express what words can't. Music makes us feel somehow closer to the deceased. Music can even unlock some precious memories. Music brings to the surface emotions shared with the deceased during his or her life. Music is an invaluable companion to grief.

Our funeral painting by Polish Art Nouveau artist Edward Okun depicts four grieving women singing and walking past a coffin that is dressed with chrysanthemums and a four-stringed violin. The violin, with its thin strings that easily snap, symbolises the broken threads of time and indicates the fragility of earthly existence. The music that was once played by the deceased's life, has stopped and is now replaced by the singing of the grieving women.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/858
Christian Art - www.christian.art