Gospel in Art: I have not come to abolish the Law or Prophets, but to fulfil them

The Winged Victory of Samothrace, 200-190 BC, Sculpted Parian marble © Louvre Museum, Paris / Alamy

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 26 March 2025
Matthew 5:17-19

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: 'Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.'

Reflection on the Ancient Greek Sculpture

At the start of today's Gospel reading, Jesus says, 'Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them.' This suggests that some people at the time believed Jesus intended to discard or even wipe away the old laws and begin afresh. However, Jesus did not reject the past; rather, he drew out the goodness within it! He offered a renewed interpretation of the law. Jesus affirmed that God had been speaking long before his own arrival on earth.

God is timeless. In a certain sense, art can possess a similar quality of timelessness. A great work of art, though created at a specific moment in history, never feels outdated and remains just as powerful and relevant today as when it was first conceived. Consider Michelangelo's Pietá, or our Medieval cathedrals. They are timeless. A truly timeless sculpture is the Greek Hellenistic masterpiece, the Nike of Samothrace, sculpted around 190 BC. Many artworks can claim a kind of permanence, but there is something exceptional about Nike of Samothrace. The opposite of such enduring works are 'time-bound' creations, which may captivate for a brief period but quickly become outdated or irrelevant. I think that is the case, unfortunately, with a lot of contemporary art that is around.

Standing triumphantly atop a ship's prow, the Nike of Samothrace embodies movement, power, and divine grace. It was crafted to celebrate a naval victory, and despite missing its head and arms, its dramatic form still conveys a sense of unstoppable momentum. The sculptor masterfully captured the illusion of wind billowing through Nike's flowing garments, enhancing the feeling of dynamic motion. The sculpture was discovered in 1863 on the island of Samothrace, broken into multiple pieces and partially buried. A fascinating fact about this masterpiece is that it was originally designed to be placed in a fountain, with water cascading around its base, making it even more striking and lifelike in its original setting. Today, it dominates the grand staircase of the Louvre Museum, where visitors from around the world marvel at its timeless beauty and enduring power.

In our faith, we are called to be in touch with the timeless, transcendent God, moving beyond the fleeting and ephemeral attractions of this world. Like the Nike of Samothrace, which continues to inspire across the ages, our faith is not confined to a single moment-it is eternal.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-5-17-19-2025/ (with audio)