Gospel in Art: The Son of Man will declare himself in the presence of the angels

A Soul brought to Heaven, (Une âme au ciel), by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1878 © Musée d'Art et d'Archéologie du Périgord, France

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 19 October 2024
Luke 12:8-12

Jesus said to his disciples:

'I tell you, if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of men, the Son of Man will declare himself for him in the presence of the angels. But the man who disowns me in the presence of men will be disowned in the presence of God's angels.

'Everyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

'When they take you before synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say, because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.'

Reflection on the painting

William-Adolphe Bouguereau painted A Soul Brought to Heaven in 1878, shortly after the devastating loss of his wife and youngest son in 1877. The painting depicts the soul, symbolised by a young woman, being gently carried by two angels towards the heavenly light in the upper right corner. In the distance, the silhouette of another angel awaits to welcome them. This work reflects Bouguereau's deep faith and his hope for a future reunion in the afterlife. The profound sense of grief is poignantly captured in the small detail of falling flowers in the bottom left corner-roses once offered to the departed on earth, now slowly drifting away as the soul ascends towards heaven, leaving the temporal world behind.

The painting is a good depiction of angels as heavenly creatures interacting with earth. Our Gospels reading speaks to the significance of courage in faith and the assurance of divine support both from the angels and the Holy Spirit when facing challenges. Jesus is emphasising the importance of publicly acknowledging him before others. He assures that those who declare their faith in him will be acknowledged before the angels of God, symbolising divine approval and recognition in the heavenly realm. Conversely, those who deny him will face rejection in the same way. The mention of angels here highlights their role as witnesses in God's court, observing human actions and loyalties.

Proclaiming our faith in the Lord today can be challenging, given the often hostile atmosphere towards religion. With so much negativity in the media, it's easy to feel discouraged and retreat into silence. However, today's Gospel encourages us to resist that temptation and to stand up for our faith openly. It offers the assurance that we are not alone in this task; the Holy Spirit is there to support us. We must continue to pray for a daily Pentecost in our lives so that we have the courage to declare our faith in front of others.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-12-8-12-2024/