Gospel in Art: Peter said: 'See, we have left everything and followed you.'

In Spirit, Digital Artwork by Philip McKay, 2022 Digital Art ©Philip McKay Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 4 March 2025
Mark 10:28-31

At that time: Peter began to say to Jesus, 'See, we have left everything and followed you.' Jesus said, 'Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers or sisters, or mother or father, or children, or lands for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brothers and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.'

Reflection on the digital artwork

Today's Gospel reading follows directly from yesterday's story of the rich man who walked away from Jesus, saddened because he could not bring himself to leave everything behind and follow him. Having witnessed this, Peter asks at the beginning of today's reading, "What about us?" In response, Jesus reassures His disciples that, having given up everything, they will receive far more than they have left behind-both in this life and in the life to come. Jesus constantly calls us beyond the familiar, beyond the comforts we have carefully built around ourselves. There must be an element of self-emptying and self-giving to make us thrive and blossom.

This Gospel passage brings to mind a digital artwork by Philip McKay. Before a tree can produce its leaves, it must grow, shed and nurture. When it sheds them, it makes way for new leaves and new life. In the same way, those who desire closeness to Christ must be willing to let go of certain things in order to embrace new life in Him. This ongoing process of sacrifice and renewal is at the heart of the Christian journey. Peter, in today's Gospel, is told precisely this: whatever has been left behind will be returned in the form of new, abundant life.

Philip McKay, a Liverpool-based digital artist, began creating digital works in 1996. Strongly influenced by René Magritte and the Surrealists, his art often weaves together the surreal and the spiritual, evoking a profound sense of mystery. In our image, the leaves being swept away from the tree subtly take on the shape of a face, a striking visual metaphor. It serves as a reminder that who we are is often revealed in what we give away!

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-10-28-31-2025/