Gospel in Art: The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out

Interior of a Frame Gilding Workshop, by Louis Emile Adan (1839-1937), Painted 1895, © Musée des beaux-arts d'Angers / Wikimedia

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 27 May 2023
Luke 10:1-9

The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit.

He said to them, 'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, "Peace to this house!"

And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, "The kingdom of God is very near to you."'

Reflection on the painting

First Jesus called the Twelve to be with him and be close to him. For years they first had to get to know Jesus personally. Then, once a close relationship of friendship had been established, Jesus sent them out in pairs. Their task was to do exactly as he did, to imitate him, to be an extension of Jesus. But twelve of them was not enough. Hence in today's reading we are told Jesus now sends out 72 disciples. And after these 72, even more workers would be sent out for the Lord's harvest. And after that even more and more… till we come to our own times, where we are still called and sent out into the wide world to bear witness to Christ. Indeed, the Lord calls us all to be his co-workers.

And he sent them out in pairs, to stress that they had to work together, and not just be lone rangers. As Christians, that is what we are: CO-workers. We have to work together. By following the Lord and working in his name together, we actually give the Lord to each other and we receive the Lord from each other.

The decorative arts is one area in which cooperation is crucial. In making a piece of furniture a designer is needed, and so are a carpenter, a carver, a bronze maker, a marble maker, etc… all of them working towards the one result. The same is true of the art of making frames, as illustrated in our charming late 19th-century French painting by Louis Emile Adan. The frame we see lying on the table would have been measured, designed, and carved before ending up at the gilder's workshop, as illustrated here. Three ladies are collaborating to create the one end result, already based on the previous work of a carver and a designer.

We are called to all work together to ensure that people today hear and experience the same good news that the seventy-two were called by Jesus to preach: 'The kingdom of God is very near to you'.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-10-1-9-2023-2/