Gospel in Art: Jesus exclaimed, 'I bless you, Father'

Cherry in Bloom, by Erin Hanson (born 1981), 2023, © Erin Hanson Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 19 July 2023
Matthew 11:25-27

Jesus exclaimed, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.'

Reflection on the painting

Occasionally the Gospel readings give us a beautiful glimpse into the prayer life of Jesus. Todays Gospel reading is one of such precious readings. We are familiar with Jesus' prayer of petition in the Garden of Gethsemane, 'Father, take this cup from me'. But the prayer of Jesus today's Gospel reading is one of praise. It starts with the words 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth'.

Jesus praises God for the mysterious ways that God works, ways that seem paradoxical to human observation. Jesus blesses God for hiding the message of Jesus from the learned and the clever, and revealing them to mere children. It is not the religious experts, the teachers of the Jewish Law, who are coming to know God. Rather, it is those who would have been considered religiously and theologically illiterate who are coming to know God in and through Jesus' ministry. Those whose hearts are open to God will be revealed everything. The prayer of Jesus to his father is a beautiful example of the Father and the Son seeking to draw us into their mutual love.

It is a prayer that is making us look upward to the love between the Father and the Son. Looking upwards we see the beauty and love between them. Talking about looking upwards, I recently came across this new painting, painted in 2023, by Erin Hanson. The canvas is inspired by a local Oregon scene which Hanson spotted not too far from her home. As a viewer we look upwards at a cherry blossom tree, and only by looking upwards do we see its full beauty and the myriads of pink tonalities. Cherry blossoms typically last for about a week, and then as quickly as they graced us, their petals fall like snow, and the wait starts for their next bloom…

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-11-25-27-2023/