Gospel in Art: Blessed are you..., woe to you...

Gospel of 16 February 2025
Luke 6:17, 20-26

At that time: Jesus came down with the Twelve and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon. And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: 'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and spurn your name as evil on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.'

Reflection on the painting

In today's Gospel reading, when Jesus says, "Blessed are you who are poor, yours is the kingdom of God," he is not suggesting that poverty itself is a blessed state. Rather, he is affirming that the poor are blessed because God stands with them. By first listing some other beatitudes and then following with the four woes, Jesus is highlighting the need for a balanced life. Together, the Beatitudes and woes create a healthy spiritual foundation, guiding us towards a deeper relationship with both God and our neighbour.

When life is going well, it is important not to lose sight of those who are less fortunate. And when we face struggles, we should remember the blessings we do have such as our families, friends, a roof over our heads, or a job. Jesus calls us to live with balance: in difficult times, we should focus on the good in our lives, and in times of abundance, we must keep things in perspective and not forget those in need.

Our painting by self-taught Florida-based folk artist Debbie Criswell offers a playful interpretation of this idea. Two cats-one black, one white-are delicately balanced on a circle, which itself rests on a larger sphere. Their careful equilibrium symbolizes the fragile balance of life. A single misstep could send them tumbling, just as in our own lives, finding balance requires mindfulness and care.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-6-17-20-26-2025/