Today's Gospel in Art - Ten lepers came to meet Jesus

Ten Lepers, by James Christensen 2002 © James C Christensen

Gospel of 13th October 2019 - Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, 'Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.' When he saw them he said, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, 'Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.' And he said to the man, 'Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.'

Reflection on the Painting

'One of them turned back praising God', we read in today's Gospel passage. We see the thankful man depicted in our painting on the right, turning away from the rest of the group to go and show his gratitude to Christ. The other nine lepers are seen walking away… James Christensen, a California based artist, paints this Gospel scene in a very elegant, graceful and beautiful way. The beauty of this painting draws us right in and engages the viewer. The painted detail of the torn, used, scruffy clothes shows that moments before this scene, they were still ill, still lepers.....To read on see: www.christianart.today/daily-gospel-reading/202