Today's Gospel in Art: When two or three meet in my name

Going to Church, by William H. Johnson, 1940 © Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1022

Gospel of 13 August 2019 - Matthew 18: 15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: 'If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.

'I tell you solemnly, whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.

'I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.'

Reflection on the painting

Continuing from yesterday, I chose another 'simple' painting for us to look at today. Beautiful in its simplicity, yet very effective, colourful and joyful to look at, again proving the point that art doesn't always have to be 'high' art loaded with meaningful thoughts, ideas or layers. Sometimes painting such as these are called naïve art referring to its simple, unaffected and unsophisticated character, usually specifically referring to art made by artists who have had no formal training in an art school or academy. It is a rather derogatory term and I think we should stay away from this term, as all art has merit, however intensely the artist has been academically formed or not.

To read on see: www.christianart.today/daily-gospel-reading/142