Gospel in Art: Blessed are you who are poor

The Thankful Poor, by Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1894 © Art Bridges Foundation

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 10 September 2025
Luke 6:20-26

At that time: Jesus lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: 'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and spurn your name as evil on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.'

Reflection on the Painting

The Beatitudes in Luke's Gospel are striking in their honesty. Jesus calls blessed those who are poor, hungry, and grieving, while warning those who are rich, comfortable, and laughing. It completely overturns the way the world usually defines success and happiness. At first, His words sound unsettling. Yet Jesus is not saying that poverty or suffering are good in themselves. Rather, He shows us that vulnerability can become the very place where God draws near. When life strips us back (through illness, loss, or hardship) it can create a space within us where God is finally able to enter. In our weakness, we discover our need for Him, and that need becomes the doorway for His grace. Very often, it is in times of hunger, sorrow, or struggle that people experience God's closeness most deeply.

But Jesus' teaching is not only for those who suffer. When life is comfortable and things are going well, we too must make room for God, instead of waiting until trouble forces us to. The invitation is always for today: to welcome God into the depths of our lives, to rely on Him in good times as much as in hard times, and to recognise that true blessing comes not from our circumstances but from His presence with us.

Of the Beatitudes, the line that always strikes me the most is 'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God', because it goes straight to the heart of the Gospel's reversal of secular values. God is our treasure, whatever our circumstances. Henry Ossawa Tanner's The Thankful Poor, painted in 1894, is a deeply moving portrayal of quiet faith in poverty. The painting shows an elderly man and a young boy seated at a simple wooden table, heads bowed in prayer before a modest meal. The light falls gently across the figures, drawing the viewer into their act of thanksgiving. We join in their prayer. Tanner captures not just an intimate family moment but a profound spiritual truth: gratitude does not depend on abundance, but on recognising God's presence even in scarcity. The father and son's act of prayer transforms the ordinary into something holy.

The artist, Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937), was the first internationally acclaimed African American painter. His father was an African Methodist Episcopal bishop in Pittsburg. Tanner trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts before moving to Paris, where he found greater acceptance as a black artist. Much of his work blends realism with spiritual themes, such as in our painting. The Thankful Poor is among his best-known works, reflecting both his religious upbringing and his ability to convey the beauty and strength of African American life in the face of hardship.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-6-20-26-2025/