Gospel in Art: Anyone who welcomes little children in my name, welcomes me

Christ and the Young Child, by Carl Bloch © Skt Nikolai Kirke, Holbæk, Denmark

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 21 May 2024
Mark 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; and he did not want anyone to know, because he was instructing his disciples; he was telling them, 'The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.' But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him.

They came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, 'What were you arguing about on the road?' They said nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest. So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.' He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, 'Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.'

Reflection on the painting

In matters of faith, healthy and respectful argumentation can lead us closer to truth and even Truth with a capital T. The realm of faith is one of mystery, providing ample space for lively exchanges that can deepen our understanding. However, arguments driven by self-promotion do not serve our faith well. In today's gospel reading, the disciples engaged in such an argument, vying for status and identity within God's kingdom. Jesus responded not only with words but also with action, using a child as a living example.

Placing the child before them, Jesus emphasised that greatness in the kingdom is not measured by status but by one's capacity for love and compassion, particularly towards the weakest and most vulnerable. In the culture of that time, children occupied a lowly position in society, symbolising powerlessness. Jesus's message challenges us to prioritise care for those often overlooked or marginalised, reminding us that true greatness lies in humble service and love for others.

Carl Bloch's painting "Christ and the Young Child," completed in 1873, depicts Jesus holding young boy who is holding a palm branch. The palm branch is a symbol associated with victory, triumph (the Ancient Greek athletes were offered palm wreaths after a victory; or think of Palm Sunday and the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem). But palms are also associated with martyrdom in Christian iconography: Christian triumph over death. The child holding a palm branch therefore conveys great poignancy. In the context of our Gospel reading, it represents the innocence and spiritual victory of a child-like purity. The child's gesture of holding the palm branch in the presence of Jesus is therefore a display of homage, acknowledging Jesus as the ultimate source of victory and salvation. Bloch's masterful use of light and colour against a dark ground adds to the emotional depth of the scene.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-9-30-37-2024/