Gospel in Art: The stars will come falling from heaven

Leonid Meteor Storm, by Edmund Weiss, 1833 from 'Bilderatlas der Sternenwelt' © Wikicommons

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 17 November 2024
Mark 13:24-32

Jesus said to his disciples: 'In those days, after the time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness, the stars will come falling from heaven and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of heaven.

'Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that he is near, at the very gates. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all these things will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

'But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.'

Reflection on the Coloured Print

Advent will soon be upon us-a season of longing, anticipation, and patient waiting for the birth of Our Lord. Today's reading echoes these themes of preparation, patience, and watchfulness. But isn't life itself a journey of preparation? In youth, we prepare for future work; in work, we prepare for retirement; in retirement we prepare for leaving these earthly shores. new roles. Life's stages seem to call for constant preparation and readiness. But are we truly preparing for Christ's second coming? That is the question put to us in today's Gospel reading. Even, do we believe in the second coming of Christ?

The rise of scientific and rationalist thinking in our modern society has maybe impacted some of our personal Christians' beliefs about supernatural events. We may struggle with the concept of a supernatural return of Christ, viewing it as inconsistent with a naturalistic worldview. However, if we knew that Christ would return, say, at the end of the year, surely, we would live differently, transforming our lives with joyful expectation. This, Jesus tells us, is the mindset to adopt today: don't delay but prepare now, as if his return is imminent. With this focus, our prayer life takes on a new urgency and vibrancy.

Today's Gospel is filled with poetic imagery-stars, the moon, the sun, and angels, evoking the grandeur of creation. Jesus isn't trying to frighten us with these cosmic images but rather wants to draw us into the infinite. Our featured artwork, a polychrome print of the Leonid Meteor Storm over North America on the night of 12-13 November 1833, captures a similar awe. Issued in 1888 by Austrian astronomer Edmund Weiss, who taught at the University of Vienna, this print conveys the celestial wonder that inspired countless artists of the time. The Leonid storm, an extraordinary spectacle, offers a glimpse of what might resemble "the stars falling from heaven". At the time this meteoric storm happened, people did think the end of time had arrived.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-13-24-32-2024/