Gospel in Art: If you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own

Nameless and Friendless, 'The rich man's wealth is his strong city, etc.' - Proverbs, x, 15', by Emily Mary Osborn 1857 © Tate Gallery, London

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 19 August 2024
Matthew 19:16-22

There was a man who came to Jesus and asked, 'Master, what good deed must I do to possess eternal life?' Jesus said to him, 'Why do you ask me about what is good? There is one alone who is good. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.' He said, 'Which?' 'These:' Jesus replied 'You must not kill. You must not commit adultery. You must not bring false witness. Honour your father and mother, and: you must love your neighbour as yourself.' The young man said to him, 'I have kept all these. What more do I need to do?' Jesus said, 'If you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.' But when the young man heard these words he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.

Reflection on the painting

The young man who came to see Jesus in today's reading appeared to have everything-success, wealth, and a comfortable life. Yet he felt something was missing, a void he couldn't fill. That's why he sought out Jesus, hoping to find what he lacked. When Jesus asked him to give himself wholeheartedly to God and sell all his possessions, the young man walked away in sorrow. Why was he filled with sadness rather than joy? Likely because he was too attached to his worldly possessions. His heart clung to his wealth rather than embracing the call to be all-giving and fully trusting in God.

In our own lives, "selling all that we have" can mean various things: distancing ourselves from unhealthy friendships, changing our lifestyle, adopting more nurturing hobbies, or getting involved in charity work. Today's reading calls for a radical lifestyle change if we truly want to follow Christ. Whatever stands in the way of our closeness to Jesus must be recognised, addressed and let go.

In a literal sense, for the young man this might have meant selling valuable possessions. This theme is poignantly depicted in the painting 'Nameless and Friendless' by Emily Mary Osborn. I saw this painting three weeks ago at an exhibition which is currently running in Tate Britain on Women Artists 1520-1920. Osborn, a significant artist in the campaign for women's rights in the 19th century, often focused on figures of modest means. This painting, from 1857, illustrates the plight of a single woman in the modern metropolis. The woman, dressed in black (which suggests she is an orphan) is a struggling artist accompanied by a young boy, probably her younger brother. She offers one of her paintings to an art dealer, hoping to sell it for money. The dealer's disdainful expression and the gallery assistant looking down on her from a ladder highlight her desperate situation. Meanwhile, two men on the left eye her, holding a suggestive drawing, subtly hinting at the grim choices she may face if her painting doesn't sell.

The woman in Osborn's painting had to sell her artwork to survive physically; the rich young man in the Gospel was asked to sell his possessions to survive spiritually. However, unlike the determined woman, he walked away, saddened, unable to part with his wealth.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-19-16-22-2024/