Gospel in Art: No prophet arises from Galilee

Rain of Prejudice, by Aldo Muzzarelli, 2019, Acrylic, graphite, crayon, canvas, metal, wood, nails ©Aldo Muzzarelli artist, all rights reserved

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 5 April 2025
John 7:40-52

At that time: When the crowd heard these words of Jesus some of the people said, 'This really is the Prophet.' Others said, 'This is the Christ.' But some said, 'Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?' So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, 'Why did you not bring him?' The officers answered, 'No one ever spoke like this man!' The Pharisees answered them, 'Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.' Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 'Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?' They replied, 'Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.'

Reflection on the painting

At the conclusion of today's Gospel, the religious leaders dismiss the idea that a prophet could come from Galilee, declaring, "Prophets do not come out of Galilee." Earlier in John's Gospel, Nathanael had asked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Both statements reveal a deep-seated bias based on place of origin. Another example of prejudice appears when the religious authorities claim, "This crowd knows nothing of the Law, they are cursed." Here, they assume that those without formal religious training are incapable of discerning God's ways. It is all too easy to judge individuals or groups based on where they come from or their level of education. Having prejudices is not good! However, true wisdom requires setting aside assumptions and seeking to understand people beyond surface labels.

Nicodemus provides a striking contrast to this attitude. Despite being a Pharisee, a group generally hostile towards Jesus, he refuses to make a rash judgement. Instead, he insists, "Surely our Law does not allow us to pass judgement on a man without first hearing him and finding out what he is about." His approach highlights the antidote to prejudice: listening with an open heart. Taking the time to truly hear and understand others can prevent unnecessary conflict and foster genuine dialogue. In today's world, where divisions can be deep and judgements swift, this kind of openness is more important than ever. As people of faith, we are called to recognise the presence of God's Spirit in places and people we might not expect, allowing grace to break through where prejudice might otherwise blind us.

The artwork we are looking at today is titled 'Rain of Prejudice'. the artist, Aldo Muzzarelli, depicts a young African American girl shielding herself from an unusual and unexpected rain. The dirty water droplets, falling from rusty nails (hammered at the top of the painting), symbolise hardship and adversity. Yet, as they descend, they gradually transform into radiant golden rain. The artists says that 'within the framework of a hostile society-marked by intolerance, racism, sexism, and domestic violence-the most vulnerable must find ways to protect themselves. The most powerful means of defence is through knowledge: combating prejudice, seeking education, raising awareness, and standing up for ideals that can help transform the world into a better place. Through my paintings, I strive to convey a sense of optimism, turning negatives into positives'. Look how the nails and their rusty rain are transformed into golden drops: prejudice transformed into radiating love

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-7-40-52-2025/(with audio)