Gospel in Art: The parable of the talents

Woman looking at 'Abstraktes Bild, Dunkel' by Gerhard Richter during preview of a post-war & contemporary art auction at Christie's, NY. 3.05.2013 © UPI / Alamy Stock Photo

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 16 November 2022
Luke 19:11-28

While the people were listening, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they imagined that the kingdom of God was going to show itself then and there. Accordingly he said, 'A man of noble birth went to a distant country to be appointed king and afterwards return. He summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds. "Do business with these" he told them "until I get back." But his compatriots detested him and sent a delegation to follow him with this message, "We do not want this man to be our king."

'Now on his return, having received his appointment as king, he sent for those servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made. The first came in and said, "Sir, your one pound has brought in ten." "Well done, my good servant!" he replied "Since you have proved yourself faithful in a very small thing, you shall have the government of ten cities." Then came the second and said, "Sir, your one pound has made five." To this one also he said, "And you shall be in charge of five cities." Next came the other and said, "Sir, here is your pound. I put it away safely in a piece of linen because I was afraid of you; for you are an exacting man: you pick up what you have not put down and reap what you have not sown." "You wicked servant!" he said "Out of your own mouth I condemn you. So you knew I was an exacting man, picking up what I have not put down and reaping what I have not sown? Then why did you not put my money in the bank? On my return I could have drawn it out with interest." And he said to those standing by, "Take the pound from him and give it to the man who has ten pounds." And they said to him, "But, sir, he has ten pounds…". "I tell you, to everyone who has will be given more; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

'"But as for my enemies who did not want me for their king, bring them here and execute them in my presence."'

When he had said this he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Reflection on the painting

Eleven of the forty gospel parables are about money, apparently exceeding the stories about faith and prayer, and Jesus has even more words to add directly about wealth and material goods. Many psychologists, CS Jung in particular, remind us that money is a major archetype, a pattern of inner power and energy that flows through us, influencing and revealing a great deal about ourselves and our world view. Each archetype provides insight into why we and others think and act in certain ways. In today's parable we see how different characters invest money, a symbol of their personal gifts, emotions, ideas, dreams, ambitions and relationships, in ways shaped by their life journey. In addition, we know that archetypes are not just about individuals but rather all of us as part of a whole. There are collective archetypal patterns influencing human choice and consequence.

It may be helpful to reflect on the context in which Jesus relates this story. They were getting nearer to Jerusalem (an archetypal city in itself) and "they thought that the Kingdom of God was going to show itself there and then".

At various times Jesus prepared the apostles and us for the reality that living in the Reign of God is a slow process.

The award-winning author, poet, librettist, and scholar, Elizabeth Cook comments that "slow writing - like long exposure photography - can bring about a sense of saturation in the material … [so that] the work is more open to receiving and being changed by what occurs during the process of its making." In a similar way, Jude Barrett, Ashmolean Museum reflects on 'Slow Art' which "was created to encourage us all to look at art for a little longer, in the hope that we not only see more, but also get to know the works in greater detail. Exploring artworks more slowly can help us to form more stories, feelings, and opinions, about the works." May we be encouraged to pray slowly on the gospel message.

Available on YouTube are a number of videos on Slow Art, including a Slow Art Experience, lasting about 5 minutes, produced by the Saint Louis Art Museum, a reflection on Gerhard Richter's painting, Ölberg (1986), similar to the painting we are looking at today.

Born in Preston, England, Sister Pauline Darby SHCJ taught for a few years before training as a facilitator and worked with schools and parishes in different dioceses in addition to religious congregations at home and abroad. Pauline uses art in both facilitation and retreat settings and is herself a keen iconographer. Currently she is serving in Rome as leader of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-19-11-28-2022/