Gospel in Art: The two angels said, 'Woman, why are you weeping?'

The Dead Christ with Angels by Edouard Manet © Metropolitan Museum, New York

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 11 April 2023
John 20:11-18

Mary stayed outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, still weeping, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' 'They have taken my Lord away' she replied 'and I don't know where they have put him.' As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not recognise him. Jesus said, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, 'Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.' Jesus said, 'Mary!' She knew him then and said to him in Hebrew, 'Rabbuni!' - which means Master. Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and find the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' So Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had said these things to her.

Reflection on the painting

The two angels who are mentioned in today's Gospel reading are depicted in our painting by Edouard Manet from 1864. Manet identified the source of this painting, in the inscription on the rock: the Gospel according to John, chapter 20, our reading of today. However, in the passage Christ's tomb is empty except for two angels, so Manet took artistic liberty to depict Christ with the two angels. After he sent the canvas to the 1864 Salon in Paris for exhibition, people realised that he had made a great departure from the text. Further criticism arose from the fact that he painted Christ's wound on the wrong side, and also that the angels described in John as being dressed in white, were depicted dressed in bright red and orange colours. Despite Charles Baudelaire's warning that he would "give the malicious something to laugh at", the artist did not correct his mistakes. Indeed critics condemned the picture also on the basis that Christ's cadaverous body was too realistic.

There is a very strong emphasis in our reading on Mary Magdalene's tears: the two angels angels asked her 'Woman, why are you weeping?' and also Jesus asked, 'Why are you weeping?' She was like us, weeping when we lose someone who is very dear to us. When we miss someone or long for someone whom we have lost, we experience a sense of deep sadness. However the Gospel reading assures us that, even if many of our longings go unsatisfied, our longing for the Lord, which is the very deepest longing instilled in each of us, will always be satisfied. The Lord is always present, even if we fail to recognise him.

And then the most beautiful words follow where Jesus pronounces Mary's name. The Lord speaks each of our names too, just as he spoke Mary's name...

LINKS

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

Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-20-11-18-2023/