Gospel in Art: The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field

The Car Boot Sale, by Trevor Mitchell, 2014. ©Trevor Mitchell Artist

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 27 July 2022
Matthew 13:44-46

Jesus said to the crowds: 'The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.

'Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.'

Reflection on the painting

Today's gospel reading is short but nevertheless includes two parables or 'images'. In each of the them, someone finds something valuable: a box of treasures or a pearl of great value. Yet, the way that the two people come upon their treasure is quite different. The man in the first parable comes across the treasure by accident. He wasn't actively looking for a treasure, but stumbled across it. The man in the second parable however was actively looking for a treasure and eventually found one. In both parables the treasure is and was always there. So we may stumble upon God's treasure by accident, or make active efforts to find it… it is always there to be found though!

In the art market, there are some people actively looking for undiscovered treasures. They roam all the antiques shops and local auctioneers to find that hidden gem. In the trade we called these undiscovered items 'sleepers'. When I ran my company ValueMyStuff.com, people were actively submitting items for valuation to see if maybe they owned a hidden treasure. Mondays used to be our busiest day, after the weekend, when people had been to flea markets and car boot sales; or after watching the Antiques Roadshow the night before, they maybe thought they possessed a similar item. On Mondays we were inundated with Chinese porcelain, old master drawings, scientific instruments, etc… people submitting items for valuation in the hope they had discovered a treasure. These people would fit in the second parable: those 'actively' looking for treasures.

But God's treasure is quite different: its is always there, whether we look for it or not!

Our painting is by Trevor Mitchell. It depicts a car boot sale. Trevor Mitchell paints scenes of the British countryside and many of his works can be found on jigsaw puzzles, cards, calendars… We see a typical carboot sale depicted, showing people selling old records, antiques, vintage toys, etc… All generations are present trying to find that treasure.

LINKS

Christian Art: www.christian.art
Today's Image: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-13-44-46-2022/