Gospel in Art: The tradition and observances of the Pharisees

Madonna and Child, by Carlo Crivelli 1480 © The Metropolitan Museum, New York

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 8th February 2022 - Mark 7:1-13

The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus, and they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with unclean hands, that is, without washing them. For the Pharisees, and the Jews in general, follow the tradition of the elders and never eat without washing their arms as far as the elbow; and on returning from the market place they never eat without first sprinkling themselves. There are also many other observances which have been handed down to them concerning the washing of cups and pots and bronze dishes. So these Pharisees and scribes asked him, 'Why do your disciples not respect the tradition of the elders but eat their food with unclean hands?' He answered, 'It was of you hypocrites that Isaiah so rightly prophesied in this passage of scripture:

This people honours me only with lip-service,

while their hearts are far from me.

The worship they offer me is worthless,

the doctrines they teach are only human regulations.

You put aside the commandment of God to cling to human traditions.' And he said to them, 'How ingeniously you get round the commandment of God in order to preserve your own tradition! For Moses said: Do your duty to your father and your mother, and, Anyone who curses father or mother must be put to death. But you say, "If a man says to his father or mother: Anything I have that I might have used to help you is Corban (that is, dedicated to God), then he is forbidden from that moment to do anything for his father or mother." In this way you make God's word null and void for the sake of your tradition which you have handed down. And you do many other things like this.'

Reflection on the Painting

In our Gospel reading today, the disciples were being told off for not respecting the traditions of Judaism. Jesus defends his friends by stating that what is more important than human religious tradition is the actual commandment of God and His Word. What Jesus seems to be getting at is saying that God can never be fully contained within any religious practice, no matter how revered or gracious. Our religious practices are there to help us to give expression to the love we hold for God and the friendship we want to build with Him. They are there to serve and feed our faith. Jesus is not condemning the traditions that the Pharisees and Scribes uphold and treasure, but he is simply stating that they are a means to an end, not ends in themselves.

In a way it is similar when we look at Christian art. Christian art is there to serve a purpose. If we were to approach a beautiful work of art such as Carlo Crivelli's Madonna today simply as an artwork, it would be only a very limited experience for us as a viewer. Only when we realise that the painting is not just the end itself but a means to engage us with the Divine and help us contemplate God's beauty, then the experience of looking at this painted panel completely changes. Realising that the artwork is also an invitation to engage us at a deeper level with God can bring such richness and joy. And yes, maybe it sounds a little naive to use the word 'joy', but it is exactly the right word to use. For looking at art and letting it be a vehicle to lift up our hearts to connect with God is pure joy. That's is why I chose this painting today, as I have stood many times in front of this painting at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. I am each time seduced by its beauty on a human level, but yet moved beyond words on a spiritual level.

The Christ child is holding a goldfinch, representing redemption, whilst looking at a fly, a symbol of mortality. The soft cushion that Jesus is sitting on is protruding and coming into the viewer's space. Our Lady is painted with highly refined features, almost porcelain-like in feel, tender, fragile. The haloes are painted with jewels, giving the impression of actual three-dimensional precious stones. In the background we see a wooded landscape with four turbaned figures, intended to suggest a reference to unbelievers; they are seen walking away from Our Lady and Jesus. Again, look at the fly for a moment. It seems to sit 'on' the painting, rather than be 'in' the painting.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/1078
Christian Art - www.christian.art