Today's Gospel in Art - Jesus exclaimed, 'I bless you, Father'

Paradise Lost, by Banksy 2005 © Courtesy of Banksy

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 14th July 2021 - Matthew 11:25-27

Jesus exclaimed, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.'

Reflection on the Street Art work in Palestine

Our short Gospel reading today reveals the beauty of the relationship between Jesus and His Father. Jesus mentions 'Abba, Father' five times. Abba is the normal, widely-used domestic name in Aramaic (Jesus' native language) by which a child would call his/her natural father. So the unique, personal and close relationship between Jesus and His Father is on full display here… and Jesus asks each of us to fully participate in this relationship.

Ultimately it won't be until we reach eternal life that we will be fully immersed in the close bond between God the Father and His Son. In this earthly life we only get a glimpse of the power that their mutual love holds. Our artwork by Banksy shows a glimpse of paradise. That is what the artist wanted to achieve: a glimpse into a better world, into paradise for people living on the West Bank in Palestine. As with much Street Art, the location of the piece is crucial. Banksy stencilled and painted this work onto the Israeli-Palestinian West Bank barrier wall in August 2005. While he was creating the piece, the Israeli security forces did shoot in the air threateningly, trying to deter him from making the work. Banksy apparently told them: "How illegal can it be to vandalise a wall if the wall itself has been deemed unlawful by the International Court of Justice?"

The work plays on the notion that the grass is always greener on the other side and that occasionally we get glimpses into better lives or into paradise. Today's gospel reading where Jesus talks to His Father, mentioning Him five times, gives us a beautiful glimpse too into their friendship, love and union.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/867
Christian Art - www.christian.art