Today's Gospel in Art - Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?

Melancholy by Albert György 2015 ©Albert György artist

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 20th July 2021 - Matthew 12:46-50

Jesus was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, 'Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?' And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.'

Reflection on the Sculpture

Through our Baptism, we are all welcomed into the very family of God: we are all sisters, brothers, mothers and fathers to each other. We enter into a relationship with every other Christian through our baptism. It is a unique bond that links us all. Furthermore, we also enter into an eternal family relationship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each time we go to mass, we celebrate this communion between us all. That is what the Church is: a family! The Christian vocation which we are all called to through our baptism is all about this family relationship and communion. None of us are alone.

Struggling with loneliness is not something that Christians are immune from, even though we are part of this vast community of fellow believers. Sometimes an emptiness can overwhelm us, as powerfully sculpted by Swiss artist, Albert György. This piece is installed at the side of Lake Geneva. The figure is grieving after losing a loved one. Head down, the figure is filled with emptiness. It portrays the void that grief leaves us with.

When this sculpture was installed in situ in 2018, it was shared over 200,000 times on Facebook and seen by over 25 million people in the week following its installation. The artwork struck a chord with people, showing how powerful a single artwork can be, touching so many people. The gaping hole in the figure shows how we all become an outer shell feeling empty at times. But Jesus reminds us today, that we are all sisters and brothers to each other, and can find support and comfort through the bond of our faith.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/873
Christian Art - www.christian.art