Gospel in Art: I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me

The Concert, by Gerrit Van Honthorst, Painted in 1623 © National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 2 April 2025
John 5:17-30

At that time: Jesus answered the Jews, 'My Father is working even now, and I am working.' This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgement to the Son, that all may honour the Son, just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life. He does not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life.

'Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgement.

'I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgement is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.'

Reflection on the painting

In yesterday's Gospel reading, Jesus asked the paralysed man at the pool of Bethesda, 'Do you want to be well again?' Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is often seen probing the hearts of those he encounters, encouraging them to reflect on their deepest desires. Though he already knew what the man wanted, he still posed the question. He wanted to draw out an intentional response. At the very end of today's Gospel, Jesus reveals what He desires: 'I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.' His words express the profound truth that his will is in perfect harmony with the Father's. And now, he calls us to desire what he desires, aligning our will with his own.

Our calling, then, is to be in perfect harmony with Jesus, just as he is in perfect harmony with his Father. Where in the arts do we find such harmony beautifully expressed? In music. In music, individual notes and sounds blend together to create something greater than their sum-something whole and unified. Imagine if humanity were in perfect harmony with Our Lord... what a glorious symphony that would be!

Today for our artwork we turn to Gerrit van Honthorst, one of the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age. Van Honthorst painted with energy and confidence, using vivid, joyful colours that seem to radiate light. Joy bursts from the canvas. In the scene, the conductor of the house concert, seen with his back to us, points out the notes to be sung, guiding the musicians and ensuring their harmonious performance. Just as harmony in music comes when the conductor's direction is followed, so too does harmony in our faith emerge when we follow Christ.

After training in Utrecht, Gerrit travelled to Italy, where he absorbed tenebrism (strong contrasts of light and dark) characteristic of Caravaggio's work. Upon returning to the Netherlands, he became famous for his candlelit night scenes, earning him the nickname "Gherardo delle Notti" (Gerard of the Nights). His compositions are often filled with warmth, life, and fun storytelling, whether depicting biblical narratives, historical subjects, or lively genre scenes of musicians. His reputation led him to prestigious commissions from European courts, including working as a painter for King Charles I of England and Prince Frederick Henry of Orange.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-5-17-30-2025/ (with audio)