Gospel in Art: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones

Stage Set design of ancient Roman ruin being converted into a barn, by Johann Heinrich Ramberg, 1800 © Metropolitan Museum, New York

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 3 August 2025
Luke 12:13-21

At that time: Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.'

But he said to him, 'Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?'

And he said to them, 'Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of one's possessions.'

And he told them a parable, saying, 'The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, "What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?"

And he said, "I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' " But God said to him, "Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" So is the one who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.'

Reflection on the Drawing

Today's parable offers a vivid portrayal of someone whose life revolves entirely around himself. He begins as a wealthy man and grows even wealthier after an exceptional harvest. He asks an important question: "What shall I do now?" But the answer he gives is entirely self-serving. Rather than considering others or giving thanks, he decides to tear down his existing barns (already sufficient) and build larger ones to hoard his surplus. His focus is entirely on possession and preservation. Everything is centred on himself in the language he uses: my crops, my barns, my grain, my goods, even my soul. But what he fails to grasp is that his soul was never his to begin with. It belonged to God, and when God called him home, he had nothing lasting to offer... only stored-up goods and selfish plans.

Jesus tells us this story as a caution against greed and the illusion that our security lies in our possessions. Earlier in Luke's Gospel, Jesus teaches that real security comes from listening to his words and living by them: like the wise person who builds their house on solid rock, able to withstand life's storms. In the end, it is not what we hold onto that makes us safe, but how deeply we are rooted in Christ and his teaching. Only proper roots and foundation will endure.

This pen, ink, and watercolour drawing depicts the interior of a rustic barn built atop the crumbling remains of Roman ruins. The ancient Roman stones, once part of a grand and seemingly indestructible edifice, have now been reduced to mere foundations for a simple agricultural structure. Yet even this humble barn is temporary. In time, it too will decay, giving way to something else, perhaps another building or perhaps succumb to mere overgrowth. The image quietly but powerfully illustrates the transience of all earthly things. No matter how permanent something appears, whether a Roman temple or a solid timbered barn, it will one day fade, be replaced, forgotten... This drawing serves as a gentle reminder not to cling too tightly to worldly possessions or achievements, which ultimately pass away.

The drawing was created by Johann Heinrich Ramberg (1763-1840), a prolific German artist known for his theatrical and narrative output. A favoured illustrator of literary works, Ramberg was also deeply involved in designing stage sets, and this particular piece was likely intended for use in an opera or play. His ability to fuse architectural precision with emotional atmosphere made his work especially well-suited to the dramatic arts. As a court painter in Hanover and a student of Sir Joshua Reynolds in London, Ramberg's career bridged the worlds of fine art, literature, and performance.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-12-13-21-2025/