Gospel in Art: Always treat others as you would like them to treat you

Beyond Walls, by Saype, 2019, © Saype installation, Champ de Mars, Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 27 June 2023
Matthew 7:6,12-14

Jesus said to his disciples: 'Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, or they may trample them and then turn on you and tear you to pieces.

'So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.

'Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.'

Reflection on the 'Street Art' work

Four years ago this vast 600 metres (1,900 feet) long artwork was sprayed at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is made by French street artist Saype who specialises in large biodegradable paintings. The work shows a series of interlocked hands and is a tribute to a charity (SOS Méditerranée), which operates to save and rescue migrants who are at risk of drowning in the Mediterranean sea. According to the UN, an average of six migrants died crossing the Mediterranean every day last year. A very sad and shocking statistic!

Each arm and hand is different, one rescuing, one being rescued. By having all the arms in a continuous line, it also becomes a symbol of togetherness, and illustrates today's Gospel's call to solidarity where Christ tells us to always treat others as you would like them to treat you.

The scale of the artwork is gigantic, and therefore carries a lot of impact. It can only be fully appreciated when we look at it from above, close to the skies… From a ground level, we as human viewers can't fully read nor appreciate the work. Literally and symbolically, we need to elevate ourselves to understand what it is all about. The row of arms are acting as a human chain, moving beyond borders and remembering history. Saype's great-grandparents were French Resistance fighters in rural eastern France during World War II and died after they were deported. Saype quotes: "Right now, it seems like we've all got short memories, that we're living in a kind of negative, prewar atmosphere with an economic crisis and people putting up barriers".

If we want to treat others like we want them to treat us, we have to help those in distress and worse off than us. Our hands reaching out would not only act as hands to rescue and help survival, but above all as hands of friendship towards our neighbours and fellow human beings, whatever race, country or background.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-7-6-12-14-2023/