Gospel in Art: Pray for those who persecute you

Christian Martyrs in the Colosseum, by Konstantin Flavitsky (1830-1866), Painted in 1862 © The State Russian Museum, St Petersburg

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 24 February 2024
Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples: 'You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.'

Reflection on the painting

From today's Gospel passage it is clear that Jesus wants us to go beyond what we could do on our own. He calls us to love our enemies. He lived this out when he was crucified. Even at that very moment he loved everyone around him and showed unconditional love. It is easy to love the people who love us and who bring blessings on us; it is a whole lot harder to love people we don't particularly warm to or even like. But those are exactly the people Jesus is asking us to love too. Especially during Lent, our Lord can help lift us beyond what we think possible.

The first Christians had to put this into practice in a very real way, during the Roman persecutions. Our artist, Konstantin Flavitsky, depicts Christians about to be killed in the Colosseum in Rome. They are all gathered in the corridors of the arena. Flavitsky depicts the moment when the guards open the doors and push the Christians out, to be fed to the lions or be killed in any other cruel way for the entertainment of the Romans. The moral strength of the early Christians is on full display. The man on the left holding aloft a cross has resolve and is ready to face death in the name of Christ. That small cross in our painting is one of the first things we notice. It is set against the brightness of light. Christian children, women, men are ready to give their lives for their faith. They prayed for those who persecuted them and put today's Gospel reading into practice in a very tangible way.

'Love your enemies and pray...': Jesus suggests that to pray for those who persecute us is to do something that has a divine quality to it. It is to give expression to the love of God which goes out to all, even to those whom we think least deserve it.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-5-43-48-2024/