Gospel in Art: Jesus instructed the Twelve

The Life of Christ, by Gaudenzio Ferrari, 1513 © Santa Maria delle Grazie, Varallo, Italy

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 12 July 2024
Matthew 10:16-23

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: 'Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.

'Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. 'Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved. If they persecute you in one town, take refuge in the next; and if they persecute you in that, take refuge in another. I tell you solemnly, you will not have gone the round of the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.'

Reflection on the Fresco painting

The gospel reading today realistically addresses the reception Jesus' disciples can expect from the world as they bear witness. Predominantly hostile, this reception will sometimes stem from within their own families. Yet Jesus reassures his disciples that they will not face this hostility alone. The Holy Spirit will be given to them, inspiring their witness and providing the necessary support. Although our contemporary society may not be as hostile to the faith as the society into which Jesus sent his first disciples, the values of the gospel are still often viewed with suspicion. Many see these values as a threat, particularly to certain interpretations of human freedom.

Just as the first disciples were in need of the Holy Spirit in bearing witness to the Lord, we too rely on the Holy Spirit. The good news is that the Spirit is as accessible to us now as in the earliest days of the church. The Lord requires our witness just as much today as he did then. As Jesus urged his disciples earlier in Matthew's gospel, 'Ask and it will be given you.' This call to persist in seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance remains vital for our mission to uphold and spread the gospel's values in our contemporary world.

I am sharing with you 'Gaudenzio Ferrari's wall' at the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Varallo, Italy. Completed in 1513, this wall depicts the entire life of Christ. Twenty reserves narrate the main events of his life from the Annunciation to the Resurrection. The Crucifixion, as the most important narrative scene, occupies the centre. The most effective way to bear witness to Christ is to closely observe and meditate upon his life, as depicted in our fresco. Each scene of Christ's life serves as an inspiration, a meditation, providing a source and a perfect example for how we should live and act.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-10-16-23-2024/