Gospel in Art: A woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit

The Child's Bath by Mary Cassatt, 1893, oil on canvas © The Art Institute of Chicago

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 13 February 2025
Mark 7:24-30

At that time: Jesus arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, 'Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.' But she answered him, 'Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.' And he said to her, 'For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.' And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

Reflection on the painting

In today's Gospel reading, we hear about a mother burdened with worry. Her 'little daughter' was possessed by an unclean spirit. The term 'little daughter,' used by Mark the Evangelist, conveys tenderness and emphasises the girl's youth. How heartbreaking it must have been for someone so young, an age meant for playing and carefree joy, to be oppressed by such a terrible affliction. It's no wonder her mother was desperate, determined to do whatever it took to set her child free. For a mother, nothing compares to the joy of watching her children flourish, grow, and blossom into the fullness of their humanity. Yet this mother's joy was robbed by the presence of something evil, and in her desperation, she took the bold step of approaching Jesus. Her resolve and her faith shine through in her simple yet determined act.

Her faith is remarkable for its simplicity. She had a problem, and she turned to Jesus. That was all. She came with nothing to offer, no claims to make-only a complete dependence on his mercy. Her prayer was pure and unpretentious, born out of humility and love. She shows us what it means to come to Jesus, free from pride, self-righteousness, or pretense, and to throw ourselves entirely upon His compassion. Jesus, recognising her profound humility and unwavering faith, responded to her plea and healed her daughter.

This encounter reminds us of the power of a mother's love. Motherhood, in all its tenderness, is beautifully captured in a painting by American Impressionist Mary Cassatt, renowned for her intimate depictions of mothers and children. One such painting portrays a mother bathing her child, evoking the very moments the Syro-Phoenician woman longed to reclaim: simple, unhurried times to bond with her daughter. Cassatt's style, influenced by Japanese woodblock prints, uses flattened perspective and close composition, drawing us into the scene while keeping us as observers rather than participants. The child's nakedness, the purity of the white legs, and the striped lines of the mother's dress create a sense of rhythm and harmony. It's as if the mother might be telling her child a story, cherishing these fleeting moments of intimacy. This is what the Syro-Phoenician woman sought so desperately-a return to tender, loving moments with her daughter, free from the grip of evil. Through faith and Jesus' mercy, she was granted that gift.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-7-24-30-2025/