Gospel in Art: You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves

Freedom of Worship, by Norman Rockwell. 1943. © Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 4 February 2023
Mark 6:30-34

The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, 'You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while'; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.

Reflection on the Painting

Today's gospel reading beautifully describes what the Christian life is about: an ebb and flow movement between prayer in quietness with God and returning to involvement with his people. Both go hand in hand. We couldn't continue to do apostolic work if it were not rooted in a prayer life. And a prayer life would be thin if it wasn't fed by the works we do. William Barclay (1907-1978) a biblical scholar, writer and broadcaster, put it well: 'The rhythm of the Christian life is the alternate meeting with God in the secret place and serving people in the market place'. From secret place to market place indeed.

In our reading today, the twelve disciples just came back from their first missionary work. This was the first time they had been out on their own, without Jesus accompanying them. They had a successful time but afterwards were exhausted and needed to rest and pray. Jesus actually tells them 'Come away and rest'… what tender, caring words.

Our painting, 'Freedom of Worship,' is by Norman Rockwell, an American author, painter and illustrator. He was a prolific artist, producing more than 4,000 original works in his lifetime. The painting is the second of the 'Four Freedoms' series, based on the four goals enunciated by the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D.Roosevelt, in his State of the Union address in 1941.

Rockwell considered this painting and the Freedom of Speech his most successful of the series. Our painting shows the profiles of eight people, taking time out of their daily lives... to rest, to pray. The various figures represent people of different faiths in a moment of prayer. The three figures on the bottom row (right to left) show a Jewish man with his head covered holding a religious book. There follows an older woman who is Protestant, and a younger Catholic woman holding rosary beads. Rockwell, when speaking about this paintings, stated that he feels hands are second only to heads in importance to the expression of a story: "I depend on the hands alone to convey about half of the message I wish to put over."

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-6-30-34-2023/