Gospel in Art: I have watched over them

Christ the Redeemer, by French sculptor Paul Landowski, built by Brazillian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa 1922 -1931 Corcovado Mountain, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil © D Dabravolskas / Shutterstock

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 24 May 2023
John 17: 11-19

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

'Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name, so that they may be one like us. While I was with them, I kept those you had given me true to your name. I have watched over them and not one is lost except the one who chose to be lost, and this was to fulfil the scriptures.

But now I am coming to you and while still in the world I say these things to share my joy with them to the full.

I passed your word on to them, and the world hated them, because they belong to the world no more than I belong to the world. I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.

Consecrate them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world, and for their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth.'

Reflection on the Sculptural Monument

Our artwork today is this very iconic sculpture of Christ the Redeemer, which overlooks Rio de Janeiro. In today's gospel Jesus prays to his Father and says that he had 'watched over' his disciples and he asks God to protect them and us from all evil. This sculpture, raised on Mount Corcovado, literally watches over Rio, with outstretched arms, protecting its inhabitants.

This colossal Art Deco sculpture was completed in 1931 and is 30 metres (98 feet) tall. It was commissioned by the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro. From afar, it appears to be a simple cross shaped sculpture, but upon closer viewing, the statue of Christ becomes more defined. Apart from being listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the sculpture was recently voted to be the 5th most recognisable monument in the world, after the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty and the Colosseum in Rome.

In today's Gospel, Jesus doesn't promise us that things will be easy in our lives, but he does promise loud and clear that he will be with us through it all, every step of the way... protecting us with outstretched arms. Our Gospel reading is an extract from the prayer of Jesus for his disciples, set in the context of the last supper. In that prayer Jesus declares that since first calling his disciples to himself, he has watched over them and kept them true to God's name. Now in prayer he calls on his Father to keep them true to God's name. Jesus' prayer to the Father on their behalf is a further expression of the love and commitment he has shown to his disciples since first calling them.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-17-11-19-2023/