Gospel in Art: The soldiers took the money and carried out the instructions of the elders

The Resurrection by Ugolino di Nerio. Originally part of the Santa Croce Altarpiece, Florence © National Gallery, London

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 10 April 2023
Matthew 28:8-15

Filled with awe and great joy the women came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell the disciples.

And there, coming to meet them, was Jesus. 'Greetings' he said. And the women came up to him and, falling down before him, clasped his feet. Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; they will see me there.'

While they were on their way, some of the guard went off into the city to tell the chief priests all that had happened. These held a meeting with the elders and, after some discussion, handed a considerable sum of money to the soldiers with these instructions, 'This is what you must say, "His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep." And should the governor come to hear of this, we undertake to put things right with him ourselves and to see that you do not get into trouble.' The soldiers took the money and carried out their instructions, and to this day that is the story among the Jews.

Reflection on the painted panel

In our early 14th-century painting by Ugolino di Nerio, we see four Roman soldiers fast asleep in front of Christ's tomb, stationed to prevent anyone stealing the body. Christ is stepping out of the tomb, holding the flag of the Resurrection. This panel was part of the altarpiece Ugolino made for the church of Santa Croce, Florence. It came from the predella (the lowest part of the altarpiece) and was the last in a series of scenes of Christ's life. In our painting the soldiers are featured prominently, just as they are in today's Gospel reading.

Today's reading is disturbing as it shows that those who did away with Jesus's earthly life also wanted to wash away any signs of Jesus' risen life!

The plotters against Jesus did not just crucify him as a criminal but also labelled his disciples as body snatchers. That is what the religious leaders instructed the soldiers to say and to spread those false rumours. As our reading tells us: 'the soldiers took the money and carried out their instructions, and that was the story among the Jews'.

But as we know, these efforts to suppress the good news of Jesus' resurrection were in vain. The flame of the Lord's risen life is so glorious, that it cannot be extinguished!

LINKS

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

Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-28-8-15-2023/