Gospel in Art: Your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you

Study for Prayer for Death in the Desert by Elihu Vedder, 1867© Brooklyn Museum of Art, Lent by Mr and Mrs Wilbur L Ross, Jr

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 19 June 2024
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: 'Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men's admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

'And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

'When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.'

Reflection on the drawing

Today's reading is often the reading used for Ash Wednesday. It serves as a beautiful reminder of how 'Our Father sees all that is done in secret, and will reward us'. Jesus He warns us not to make public displays of penitence and righteousness in front of other people in order to be noticed by them. We have to be humble and discreet when we do good things. And when we fast, there too, Jesus says 'do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do'. It is a call for desert time. Desert time is symbolic of creating personal, quiet moments away from the distractions and approval of society, allowing for genuine spiritual growth and connection with God. Desert time reflects seeking God's presence in solitude and sincerity, away from the need to perform good deeds publicly, or fasting for the world to see.

So for today's artwork we are looking at a man praying in the desert. The drawing has no colour: just some ash grey pencil lines defining a semi-naked man with his arms in the air as he prays to God. It is an expressive work. We can feel a sense of desperation in the man. The power of prayer is tangible in our drawing. The artist, Elihu Vedder, was an American expatriate active in Rome from the mid-1860s. He often felt isolated there in Rome far away from family and friends. Even the beauty of Rome could not fill the loneliness he was experiencing. It was the artist's desert time, where he grew closer and closer to God. I think the artist's sense of loneliness is beautifully tangible in this drawing.

The teaching of Jesus in today's gospel reading highlights that the motivation behind our actions is as important as the actions themselves. Saint Paul expressed this idea by saying, "If I give away all my possessions but do not have love, I gain nothing." Paul suggests that even seemingly generous acts may not be driven by love for others, but rather by self-interest. In the gospel, Jesus points out that almsgiving can be self-serving if it is done to gain recognition and enhance the giver's honour. To ensure our giving is not self-serving, Jesus advises us to give in secret. In reality, from what I see here in our parish around me, much of the good that people do is done quietly and unnoticed. It is the quiet heartbeat of the parish, ticking away, keeping everything alive.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-6-1-6-16-18-2024-2/