Gospel in Art: Let the little children come to me

Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me by Jacob Jordaens © Saint Louis Art Museum, USA

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 16 August 2025
Matthew 19:13-15

At that time: Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.' And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Reflection on the painting

I've always found the image in today's Gospel, of parents bringing their children to Jesus, very touching. It is a scene priests often refer to when celebrating baptisms. Parents in bringing their children for baptism today, are doing exactly what those parents in the Gospel were doing: placing their little ones into the arms of Christ. Most of us are here because, once upon a time, someone did the same for us, for most of us our own parents. Interestingly, it's the disciples, those closest to Jesus, who try to turn the children away. Perhaps they were simply echoing the cultural norms of the time, which saw children as unimportant or without status. But Jesus turns that thinking upside down. Not only does He welcome the children, but He declares that the kingdom of God belongs precisely to this with a children's heart.

However, Jesus' words are more than just comforting... they are a challenge! Children are not to be pushed to the side of our communities; they are to be placed at the heart of them. Jesus makes it clear that children and young people have a special place in the life of faith, and in the life of our Church. He calls on all of us to do our part in helping them discover the beauty of the Gospel and the richness of Christian life. As a powerful sign of how central they are, Jesus lays His hands on them in blessing. In the same way, we are called to be bearers of Christ's blessing to the young - through our welcome and our witness.

Our painting, circa 1616, by Flemish painter Jacob Jordaens, depicts parents bring their children to Jesus. In true Baroque style, the scene is alive with movement and emotion: mothers gently presenting their children, little ones clinging shyly or curiously, and colours being very vivid. But what makes this painting especially powerful is how Jordaens positions Jesus with His back to us. We can barely see His face. Instead, we see what He sees: the parents and their children approaching. This clever compositional choice subtly draws us into the painting, as if we are standing in Jesus' place, encountering these families ourselves.

In doing so, Jordaens turns the Gospel into a personal invitation. The painting doesn't just illustrate a biblical scene, it invites us to participate in it. We are no longer observers, but participants in Christ's welcome. As we "become" Jesus in the image, we are challenged to mirror His attitude: to welcome the young, to bless them, to make space for them in our communities and hearts.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-19-13-15-2025/