Gospel in Art: They left everything and followed him

Come unto me, by Charles Bosseron Chambers, 1928 © Christian Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 7 September 2023
Luke 5:1-11

Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats - it was Simon's - and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.' 'Master,' Simon replied, 'we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.' And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point.

When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, 'Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.' For he and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. But Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.' Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.

Reflection on the engraving

Charles Bosseron Chambers was a famous illustrator in America in the first half of the 20th century. (He is often referred to as the Normal Rockwell of Catholic art). His very straight to the point and vivid illustrations were often published in the Catholic printed press. His father, an Irish captain in the British Army, was a convert to Catholicism, and thus Charles was brought up in a devout Catholic household. In 1916 Chambers moved to New York and established himself in the Carnegie Studios, Carnegie Hall, where he had a private studio. Not a bad place to have a studio! Between 1920 and 1950 millions of Chambers' religious paintings were reproduced as prints, holy cards, calendars, magazine covers etc. These brought him national recognition and a steady source of income.

The illustration we are looking at today was commissioned by the Diocese of New York to help promote vocations to the priesthood. We see a young man studying books. Christ with a burning heart is standing behind the man. The man in the picture was Thomas F Lynch (1911-1979) who posed for a series of portraits in the the late 1920s and early 1930s encouraging young men to enter the priesthood. Our print here, called 'Come unto me', depicts Christ looking straight at the young man, calling him to the priesthood or religious life. Just as Jesus called the twelve to follow him as his apostles, as in our Gospel reading today, God continuous to call men and women today equally to a life of sacrifice and service to others, following Christ fully and unconditionally. Like every grace, this vocation can only be accepted as an unmerited gift from God.

Simon was called by Jesus to go beyond his comfort zone, to put the boat of his past life behind and to follow Christ. Simon placed his skills and talents before Jesus, and trusted him so they might be used for a greater good. An adventure was about to unfold. This encounter was radical and life-changing….

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-5-1-11-2023/