Gospel in Art: Even the wind and the sea obey him

The Promised Land, by Joel Rea, 2018, Oil on canvas © Joel Rea, all rights reserved

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 23 June 2024
Mark 4:35-41

With the coming of evening, Jesus said to his disciples, 'Let us cross over to the other side.' And leaving the crowd behind they took him, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. Then it began to blow a gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped. But he was in the stern, his head on the cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, 'Master, do you not care? We are going down!' And he woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Quiet now! Be calm!' And the wind dropped, and all was calm again. Then he said to them, 'Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?' They were filled with awe and said to one another, 'Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.'

Reflection on the painting

What is the worst storm you have experienced? For some, this might be a difficult question, as we've all faced storms that threatened our stability and security. Some storms are bigger than others, but all of them shape us. Our Gospel reading today reminds us that storms don't worry Jesus. We worry about them, but with Jesus there beside us, maybe we should try to worry less. I know this is easier said than done. The disciples in our reading were very worried amidst the storm, but Jesus wasn't.

Amid our personal storms, our Gospel reading might initially suggest that Jesus is so calm and asleep that he doesn't care or won't act when we are in trouble. We may not even feel his presence, as he is so quiet. Does Jesus even realise what a storm I am in? What our reading today tells us is that Jesus is as much in control when he is asleep as when he is awake, and that he is aways there for us. This should help us ease and relax into our faith.

This sense of relaxing into our faith and knowing that Jesus is always with us amidst any storm is beautifully conveyed in our painting by Australian artist Joel Rea. A man (a self-portrait of the artist) is quietly drawing on a notepad, in front of huge, threatening waves. The storm ahead doesn't seem to phase the artist. There is also further danger in the foreground, where two sharks swim close by. We don't know if the tigers are a threatening presence or have befriended the man. This hyper-realist work is exquisitely painted. The man in the painting is at peace, even though threats surround him. It is that same peace to which Jesus invites us today, knowing that we are loved by him no matter what we are facing or what surrounds us.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-4-35-41-2024-2/