Today's Gospel in Art - Become like little children

Parents and Children in frozen landscape before an Industrial Town, by Brian Shields 'Braaq' FBA, 1978 © Private Collection, London

Gospel of 13th August 2019 - Matthew 18:1-5,10,12-14

The disciples came to Jesus and said, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, 'I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

'Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.'

'Tell me. Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray? I tell you solemnly, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all. Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.'

Reflection on the Painting

This is a charming painting of parents and children walking on a frozen lake in front of an industrial town. It shows family life in an endearing way, where the children enjoy a bit of fun on the ice. It is this innocence that children have that makes Jesus state in today's Gospel reading: 'unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven'. There is a directness and honesty about children when they relate to adults, which in a way we have to re-learn as we get older....

To read on see: www.christianart.today/daily-gospel-reading/141