Gospel in Art: Pray then, like this

Hermit Praying in the Wilderness, by Willem van Mieris, 1707. Oil on panel © The Leiden Collection

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 24 February 2026
Matthew 6:7-15

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: 'When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then, like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

'For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.'

Reflection on the painting

In today's Gospel, Jesus reminds us that prayer is not about telling God something He does not already know. We do not need endless words or elaborate speeches, because the Father understands our needs even before we speak them. Prayer, then, is not meant to change God's awareness... it is meant to change us. Our prayer does not inform God; our prayer forms us!

When we pray, we place ourselves honestly before God, recognising both His greatness and at the same time our dependence. The prayer Jesus teaches, the Lord's Prayer, beautifully expresses this movement. Its opening words turn our attention toward God: His name, His kingdom, His will. Then the prayer shifts, bringing our human needs into the light: our daily sustenance, our need for forgiveness, and our desire for strength against temptation and evil. Though brief, this prayer is both a model and a lesson, revealing that the heart of all Christian prayer is always about relationship. Saint Teresa of Ávila put it beautifully: "Prayer is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us."

Our painting by Willem van Mieris depicts a bearded hermit praying. He is set within the stillness of a rocky cave, the opening behind him revealing a distant mountainous horizon. Leaning forward over a rough stone surface, he folds his hands in quiet prayer. Before him lie a few simple companions of contemplation: open books (probably a bible), a skull recalling the passing of time, and a crucifix. His gaze rests softly on the written page, eyelids lowered, as though he is listening more with the heart than with the eyes. It is a very beautiful, contemplative scene. Looking at the hermit, we almost find ourselves longing for that same stillness of heart he has. We want to pray like him, concentrated, lonesome, undistracted. We want his ability to pray with such focus and quiet surrender.

LINKS

Christian Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reading: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-6-7-15-2026/