Gospel in Art: The finger of God has overtaken you

The Creation of Adam (detail), by Michelangelo. Painted 1508-1512 © Sistine Chapel, Vatican

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 7 October 2022
Luke 11:15-26

When Jesus had cast out a devil, some of the people said, 'It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.' Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, 'Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses. So too with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? - since you assert that it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils. Now if it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils, through whom do your own experts cast them out? Let them be your judges then. But if it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you. So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own palace, his goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than he is attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil.

'He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.

'When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it wanders through waterless country looking for a place to rest, and not finding one it says, "I will go back to the home I came from." But on arrival, finding it swept and tidied, it then goes off and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and set up house there, so that the man ends up by being worse than he was before.'

Reflection on the fresco

Probably the most famous and most literal depictions of the 'finger of God' (and one of the most replicated images of all time) is to be found in Michelangelo's Creation of Adam. I am showing you a detail of the fresco, painted between 1508-1512, on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel . The fresco is chronologically the fourth in the series of panels depicting episodes from Genesis. God is depicted as an elderly white-bearded man wrapped in a swirling cloak, while Adam, on the lower left, is completely naked. God's right arm is outstretched to impart the spark of life from his own finger into that of Adam. Adam's left arm is extended in a pose mirroring God's, a reminder that people are created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26). Adam is receiving life directly from the source. If we truly believe that we all come from God and have received the spark of life from him, then can be no room for demonising anyone, even those with very different opinions from us.

In our Gospel reading today we hear of some people accusing Jesus of being an instrument of Satan. They see all the good he does but say that it comes from an evil source and that Jesus is deceiving people. They demonise him. Unfortunately, this attitude of demonising is a human temptation so that we paint a terrible picture of other people or even whole groups of people: think about how the Nazis demonised the Jews, and how terrible were the consequences.

This kind of attitude is especially shocking when it takes place within our Church. We read about how certain individuals in the Church are highly critical of others in the church, even to the point of demonising them. This sowing of dis-unity in our Church is deplorable and against what we stand for as Christians. We can have different opinions, but that should not lead us to demonise other individuals or groups within our church.

The gospel reading this morning calls us to be alert to what Jesus calls 'the finger of God'. This finger of God is to be found in each of us, and points towards something he wants us to do. But it is also a finger pointing towards other people, not in condemnation, but in love. Even in people with whom we do not agree, there is always something to be learnt from them. The finger of God points to something deep within us, but also to someone outside us.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/

Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-11-15-26-2022/