Gospel in Art: Jesus healing a blind man

Another Place, Sculpture installation by Antony Gormley1997, Cast Iron © Wikipedia

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 19 February 2025
Mark 8:22-26

At that time: Jesus and his disciples came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spat on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, 'Do you see anything?' And he looked up and said, 'I see people, but they look like trees, walking.' Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, 'Do not even enter the village.'

Reflection on the Contemporary Art Installation

Today's Gospel reading presents the only miracle in which Jesus heals someone in stages. When he first lays his hands on the blind man, his vision begins to return, but imperfectly. He sees people, but they appear like trees. It is only after Jesus touches him a second time that he sees clearly. This gradual journey from blindness to sight mirrors our own spiritual journey. Understanding and faith do not come to us all at once; rather, they unfold over time, step by step.

This is particularly true in our relationship with God. We come to know Him gradually, and it is only beyond this life that we will see Him fully, face to face. For now, the most we can hope for is some steady growth; not just in intellectual understanding, but in a deeper, heartfelt knowledge of God. Today's Gospel reassures us that even when our progress is slow, the Lord remains patient, continually guiding us, touching us also throughout our lives and helping us to see Him more clearly, step by step.

As the blind man initially saw people resembling trees, it reminded me of Antony Gormley's installation 'Another Place'. This large-scale public artwork features 100 life-sized cast-iron figures spread across a beach. When viewed from a distance, these sculptures often appear like tree stumps, their rigid, weathered forms blending into the landscape. It is only upon closer inspection that one realises they are human figures, standing motionless as they gaze out to sea, much like the gradual unveiling of vision in the Gospel story.

The sculptures, which face out to sea, were first conceived in 1997 and have been permanently installed at Crosby Beach, Liverpool, since 2005. Each iron figure is cast from Gormley's own body and stands 189 cm (6 ft 2 in) tall, weighing around 650 kg (1,430 lbs). Originally, 'Another Place' was exhibited in locations such as Germany, Norway, and Belgium, before finding its permanent home in the UK. The figures are positioned at different distances from the shore, causing them to be gradually submerged or revealed depending on the tide, reinforcing themes of human vulnerability, time, and the relationship between man and nature. Gormley intended the installation to evoke ideas of migration, departure, and the vastness of the horizon, encouraging contemplation on the individual's place in the world.

NOTE: Dear Readers - This was actually yesterday's reading. Yesterday we published today's reading by mistake. Sorry about that! If you missed that - here's the link to today's Gospel in Art: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51755 )

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-8-22-26-2025/