Gospel in Art: That they may all be one

The Ecumenical Council by Salvador Dalí 1960 © Salvador Dali Museum, St Petersburg, Florida

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 1 June 2025
John 17:20-26

At that time: Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and praying said, '[Holy Father,] I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.'

Reflection on the painting

Today's Gospel offers us a moving insight into the prayer life of Jesus, as we hear Him pray just before His Passion and death on the Cross. And what is at the heart of His prayer? "May they all be one." Jesus prays for unity! He prays for a deep, enduring communion not only among His disciples, but among all who will come to believe in Him. This unity is not a vague ideal but a fundamental desire of Christ, especially at the most crucial moment of His earthly life. He prays not for power, not for safety, but for the oneness of His people-a unity that reflects the very unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Recognising the importance of this prayer, Pope John Paul II dedicated an entire encyclical to the theme of Christian unity: Ut Unum Sint ("That They May Be One", click here to read the document). This landmark document affirms that ecumenism-the work of healing divisions among Christian churches-is not optional or secondary, but is central to the mission of the Church. It is not just a charitable gesture or a polite dialogue, but a direct response to Christ's own prayer. Ecumenism lies at the heart of the Gospel, and each of us is called to walk together with fellow Christians, seeking unity through prayer, dialogue, and shared witness.

Our painting today, The Ecumenical Council by Salvador Dalí, reflects this same yearning for unity. Painted between 1960 and 1962, it was inspired by the 1958 election of Pope John XXIII and his groundbreaking invitation to Geoffrey Fisher, then Archbishop of Canterbury-marking the first such outreach in over 400 years. Dalí, moved by this moment of renewed hope in religious leadership after the trauma of World War II, infused the canvas with rich Christian symbolism. At the top is the Holy Trinity: God the Father reaches towards us with one hand while covering His face with the other; Jesus stands with the Cross; the Holy Spirit hovers to the right, partially hidden, accompanied by a dove. Below, Dalí's wife Gala kneels in reverence, holding a cross and a book, with the cliffs of Cap de Creus behind her. Dalí didn't sign the work-instead, he painted himself into the scene, standing at the lower left before a blank canvas, inviting the viewer to continue to paint the story of ecumenism. The painting, like today's Gospel, is a call to unity: between heaven and earth, past and present, and among all followers of Christ.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-17-20-26-2025/ (with audio)