Gospel in Art: Whoever believes in the Son shall have eternal life

Orphans, by Thomas Benjamin Kennington, 1885 © Tate Britain, London

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 17 April 2024
John 6:35-40

Jesus said to the crowd:

'I am the bread of life.

He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst. But, as I have told you, you can see me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I shall not turn him away; because I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of the one who sent me.

Now the will of him who sent me is that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, and that I should raise it up on the last day. Yes, it is my Father's will that whoever sees the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and that I shall raise him up on the last day.'

Reflection on the painting

Recently I came across this true story which can perhaps somehow help us understand today's reading a little better. It is about an event that happened during World war II. When Europe was being freed from Nazi occupation at the end of the war, there was still terrible hunger. The allied forces grouped many starving orphans together in camps where they would be fed and looked after. Even though they were lovingly cared for, the orphans hardly slept at night. Psychologists were brought to the camps and what transpired is that the orphans were anxious because they feared they would wake up again with no food. The allied forces running the camps then gave the orphans a piece of bread that the children could sleep with at night. The children were told the bread was just to be held and not eaten. The results were amazing. All the kids slept well from then onwards. The guarantee that they would wake up to food calmed their fears and made them fully trust they were now in good hands….

In our Gospel reading Jesus is telling is that he is the bread of life, always there alongside us. That thought should comfort us and also calm our fears.

Our painting depicts orphans. Painted in 1885 by Thomas Benjamin Kennington, it shows two young boys, seated on the floor, without furniture. Their plate is chipped, with only a tiny piece of bread remaining. Their feet are dirty, as they probably have no money to buy shoes. A bit of hay on the left of the painting suggests that they don't have a proper bed to sleep in, but have to make do with the most basic of sleeping settings, some hay. Their clothes are torn and worn. Despite all this, there is great affection and tenderness between the two boys, probably brothers: they are obviously caring for one another. Kennington was one of the founder members of the New English Art Club in 1886, and its first Secretary. He was well known for his compelling pictures of the urban poor, although he also painted less emotive scenes from everyday life and portraits. The rich colouring, smooth handling of paint, and subject were probably inspired by the work of the seventeenth-century Spanish artist Murillo, who also painted poor children.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-6-35-40-2024/
Competition: The Laudamus Award 2024 for Sacred Art - www.indcatholicnews.com/news/4931