Gospel in Art: Jesus went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed

Christ on the Mount of Olives, by Josef Untersberger, 1912 © Christian Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 15 January 2025
Mark 1:29-39

At that time: Jesus left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, 'Everyone is looking for you.' And he said to them, 'Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is what I came for.' And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Reflection on the painting

In today's Gospel passage, we uncover the foundation of Jesus' ministry: prayer. After recounting Jesus healing the sick and casting out unclean spirits, Mark writes, "Jesus departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed". This quiet communion with his heavenly Father was the cornerstone of Jesus' earthly mission and the source of his strength.

Throughout the Gospels, we see numerous instances of Jesus withdrawing to pray. After feeding the 5,000 (Matthew 14:23), he retreated to the hills to pray. Following the healing of a leper (Luke 5:16), it is written, "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Before selecting the twelve apostles (Luke 6:12), we read, "Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God." At every pivotal moment in his ministry, Jesus turned to prayer, demonstrating its central, crucial role in his ministry. We are called to do the same.

Our painting, by Austrian artist Josef Untersberger, captures this aspect of Christ's life beautifully. It depicts Jesus in prayer, overlooking the city of Jerusalem. The artist employs a restrained colour palette, using greens to symbolise renewal and new beginnings, blues for calm and harmony, and purples in Jesus' cloak to represent his royal dignity as Christ the King. A soft, glowing light subtly emanates from Jesus, highlighting his divine nature. His bare feet, a sign of humility, suggest that he has been deeply immersed in prayer for an extended period. This work not only portrays Christ's dedication to prayer but invites us to reflect on its importance in our own lives.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-1-29-39-2025