Gospel in Art: Whoever believes has eternal life

Hands forming a Cross, by Louis Louro, 2016 © Louis Louro Artist

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 18 April 2024
John 6:44-51

Jesus said, 'No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life.

I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.'

Reflection on the Photograph

In today's gospel reading, Jesus makes the striking statement, 'Everybody who believes in me has eternal life'. He does not say, 'will have eternal life', but 'HAS eternal life'. We would normally think of eternal life as beginning after death, after our earthly life is completed. The gospel reading suggests that eternal life is somehow accessible to us here and now, during this earthly life.

Eternal life in the gospel of John is understood as a life of communion with Jesus, the source of true life. Such a life of communion with the Lord can be experienced here and now by all those who believe in him. In so far as we are in communion with each other, we will be in communion with the Lord. Hands joined together, like in our artwork today. United around the cross, united around the Resurrection.

We traditionally use the term 'holy communion' to refer to the Eucharist. We recognize that in and through the Eucharist we enter into communion with the Lord, and with each other, in a special way. Because it is a time of communion with the Lord, the church has always understood the Eucharist as the anticipation of eternal life. In this moment of communion, heaven comes to earth and eternal life bursts open into this earthly life.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-6-44-51-2024/
Competition: The Laudamus Award 2024 for Sacred Art - www.indcatholicnews.com/news/4931