Gospel in Art: Tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance

Alfred Nobel's will, dated 27 November 1895, pen and ink on paper © The Nobel Foundation

Gospel of 21 October 2024
Luke 12:13-21

A man in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Master, tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance.' 'My friend,' he replied, 'who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?' Then he said to them, 'Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man's life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs.'

Then he told them a parable: 'There was once a rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself, "What am I to do? I have not enough room to store my crops." Then he said, "This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them, and I will say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time." But God said to him, "Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?" So it is when a man stores up treasure for himself in place of making himself rich in the sight of God.'

Reflection on the manuscript document

We are all familiar with how contentious wills can be, and many families have experienced disputes over inheritance. In today's gospel, such a dispute is brought before Jesus when a man asks him to intervene in a family matter regarding inheritance. Jesus, wisely, refuses to get involved-a decision many of us would likely make in a similar situation. However, he uses this moment to teach a lesson about what truly constitutes wealth and security. While we naturally seek financial stability, Jesus reminds us that we must also strive to be rich in the eyes of God, as our ultimate security lies in Him.

To be rich in God's sight involves being generous with what we have been given, whether it be material wealth, our health, time, talents, or skills. In the parable of our Gospel reading, the man is portrayed as the ultimate hoarder, keeping everything for his own self-interest. Despite his abundance of riches, he is ultimately poor in God's eyes; and despite his material security, his life is profoundly insecure.

One famous inheritance document that is both historically significant and worthy of illustration is the will of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and the founder of the Nobel Prizes. His will, written in 1895, is housed in the Nobel Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. The document is remarkable because it established the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded annually for outstanding contributions to humanity in fields such as peace, literature, science, and medicine. What makes this will particularly compelling is its story. Nobel's decision to leave the bulk of his fortune to fund the prizes was unexpected, even controversial, at the time. His family had no prior knowledge of his intentions, and the will's stipulations led to disputes and challenges, echoing the theme of contentious inheritances in our Gospel reading. Visually, the will itself is an important artefact, written in Nobel's own hand, and offers a tangible link to one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. It provides a powerful illustration of how a single inheritance can shape history and honour those who contribute to the betterment of humanity.

( Read the full text here: www.nobelprize.org/alfred-nobel/full-text-of-alfred-nobels-will-2/?gallery_style=page#gallery-1 )

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-12-13-21-2024/