Biblical Studies~Biblical Art

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

Saints Simon and Thaddeus (Jude),

Painted by Ugolino di Nerio (documented 1317-27; died possibly 1329),

Painted circa 1325-1328,

Egg tempera on poplar panel

© The National Gallery, London

Gospel Reading

Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.

He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all.

Reflection on the painting

Bartimaeus, the central figure in today's Gospel reading, has always struck me as a person of remarkable spirit, despite the challenging circumstances of his life. His determination to make contact with Jesus is evident. He didn’t quietly or politely approach the Lord; instead, he shouted out with boldness, “Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.” Even when the crowd scolded him and told him to be silent, Bartimaeus only raised his voice louder. Here was a man utterly focused on reaching Jesus, undeterred by those trying to put him in his place. It was his deep, desperate need that drove him to seek the Lord with such unwavering resolve.

And his determination bore fruit. Jesus took notice and, significantly, asked those very people who had tried to silence Bartimaeus to call him over. This first part of the story speaks volumes to us today. It encourages us to persist in seeking the Lord, even when we encounter resistance from those who might try to hold us back. Especially in a highly secularised society, most people would not want us to get close to Christ. In many ways, the culture around us often pressures us to remain silent about our faith. But we are called to embody the spirit of Bartimaeus—bold, determined, and relentless in our pursuit of God.

Our small stained glass roundel was made in Nuremberg between 1517-1527. One of the most significant developments in 16th century Nuremberg was the influence of the Italian Renaissance, which brought a more naturalistic style to stained glass designs. The glassmakers combined Gothic traditions with emerging Renaissance aesthetics, leading to more sophisticated shading techniques and three-dimensional effects. Artists like Veit Hirsvogel and the Hirschvogel family were notable figures in this period, contributing to the city’s reputation for producing high-quality stained glass. These smaller roundels (only 30cm. in diameter) would have been made for private devotional worship. We see Bartimaeus depicted with exquisite detailing, sitting outside the walls of Jericho. A man is seen in the distance, stubborn, with arms crossed. He was probably one of the people who didn't want Bartimaeus to meet Jesus.

Psalm 1:1-3

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

Psalm 19:8

The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.

Psalm 119:27

Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.

Knowing and reflecting on God’s Word will increase our joy and our understanding of the perplexities of life, for God counsels us through his Word.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

The Bible gives us the resources to make wise decisions, for in it is God’s wisdom itself. It offers immediate enlightenment and light into the future.

John 15:7

But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop & Martyr

Ignatius of Antioch,

Russian Icon,

17th century

tempera and gilding on wood panel, 27 х 21 см

© Pushkin Museum, Moscow, Russia

Gospel Reading

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you who build the tombs of the prophets, the men your ancestors killed! In this way you both witness what your ancestors did and approve it; they did the killing, you do the building.

‘And that is why the Wisdom of God said, “I will send them prophets and apostles; some they will slaughter and persecute, so that this generation will have to answer for every prophet’s blood that has been shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was murdered between the altar and the sanctuary.” Yes, I tell you, this generation will have to answer for it all.

‘Alas for you lawyers who have taken away the key of knowledge! You have not gone in yourselves, and have prevented others going in who wanted to.’

When he left the house, the scribes and the Pharisees began a furious attack on him and tried to force answers from him on innumerable questions, setting traps to catch him out in something he might say.

Reflection on the Russian Icon

Today, we celebrate Saint Ignatius of Antioch, early Church Father, Bishop, and martyr. Born in Syria in the mid-1st century, Ignatius is traditionally believed to have been personally taught by the Apostle John, alongside another future martyr, Saint Polycarp. Around the year 70, Ignatius became the Bishop of Antioch, assuming leadership of a Christian community said to have been first led by Saint Peter before his move to Rome. Antioch, located in modern-day Turkey, was one of the key cities of the Roman Empire and the place where the followers of Jesus were first called ‘Christians’.

Ignatius’ letters reveal his deep passion for Church unity, his warnings against heresy, and his profound devotion to the Eucharist, which he called the “medicine of immortality.” A beautiful quote. He is also credited with the earliest surviving use of the term “Catholic” to describe the Church, emphasising its universality and completeness.

As he faced martyrdom, Ignatius wrote these powerful words: “Now I begin to be a disciple. Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ.”

Saint Ignatius bore his final witness to Christ in the Flavian Amphitheatre in Rome, where he was mauled to death by lions. This dramatic moment is captured in our 17th century Russian icon, kept at the Pushkin Museum, Moscow. Two lions are devouring the saint, whilst God the Father is stretching out his hand in the top left corner. Salvation for the saint is near. Ignatius is staring straight at the lion; staring in the face of evil and death, his resolve is strong.

Romans 4:8

“What joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin.”

Romans 3:24

Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight.

Being saved, spiritually speaking, means your sins no longer count against you toward an eternal death sentence. Instead, they are forgiven by the grace of God, and you are given the free gift of eternal life. Being saved does not spare you from earthly troubles, but it does spare you from eternal judgment.

Psalm 103:12

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

Being saved means your sins have been completely forgiven and removed.

Psalm 51:9-10

Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Being saved means the stain of guilt has been washed away. Guilt doesn’t just appear to be gone—it is gone! You are given a clean slate!

John 10:28-29

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.”

John 5:24

“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

Feeding of the Five Thousand (July),

Painting by Marten van Valckenborch (1535–1612),

Painted circa 1580,

Oil on canvas

© Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

Gospel Reading

Jesus went off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee – or of Tiberias – and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples. It was shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover.

Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’ He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, ‘Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, ‘There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted. When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, ‘Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.’ So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. The people, seeing this sign that he had given, said, ‘This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself.

Reflection on the painting

Today's miracle is one of the best known Gospel stories that we all love. But note how this miracle of multiplication is not the first time this occurred in the Bible. Jesus Christ was not the first to multiply barley loaves to feed a crowd. In 2 Kings 4, the prophet Elisha faced a similar situation. During a famine, a man brought barley loaves to Elisha to feed 100 people, likely his students. The man doubted that the loaves would be enough, but Elisha told him to distribute the bread anyway. Miraculously, the bread multiplied, and everyone had enough to eat with leftovers remaining. There were fewer people there, but nevertheless a miraculous multiplication took place.

The other thing to note, is how public this miracle is. Some of Jesus’ miracles were private, like for example when he would heal someone away from the crowds. Plenty of examples we know. Others were semi-private, such as turning water into wine, or witnessed only by His disciples, like walking on water. However, the miracle of feeding the 5,000 was the most publicly witnessed of all His miracles. This is because this miracle prefigures the Eucharist. Unlike the Synoptic Gospels, John doesn’t include a direct account of the Last Supper’s institution of the Eucharist. Instead, through the feeding miracle and the subsequent Bread of Life discourse, John emphasises Jesus offering Himself as spiritual sustenance, foreshadowing the Eucharist.

At the heart of our Flemish painting, we see Jesus, blessing the loaves and fishes. His presence is the focal point, drawing the viewer’s eye to the central miracle. To the left of Jesus we see the disciples, actively distributing the multiplied food to the crowd. Their dynamic poses and expressions reflect the astonishment and joy of the miracle. The crowd, composed of men, women, and children, showcases a variety of expressions. Some are reaching out for food, while others are already eating or watching the event unfold. The serene landscape to the right showcases people harvesting. We are all asked through our participation in the eucharist to work in God's fields, forever abundant in fruits.

3:1-6 Why does Satan tempt us? Temptation is Satan’s invitation to give in to his kind of life and give up on God’s kind of life. Satan tempted Eve and succeeded in getting her to sin. Ever since then, he’s been busy getting people to sin. He even tempted Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). But Jesus did not sin!

How could Eve have resisted temptation? By following the same guidelines we can follow. First, we must realize that being tempted is not a sin. We have not sinned until we give in to the temptation. Then, to resist temptation, we must (1) pray for strength to resist, (2) run (sometimes literally), (3) say no when confronted with what we know is wrong, and (4) hold on firmly to God’s Word. James 1:12 tells of the blessings and rewards for those who don’t give in when tempted. Every time we resist temptation, we become more like Jesus.

3:1-6 The serpent, Satan, tempted Eve by getting her to doubt God’s word and then his goodness. He implied that God was strict, stingy, and selfish for not wanting Eve to share his knowledge of good and evil. Satan made Eve forget all that God had given her and, instead, focus on what God had forbidden. We fall into trouble, too, when we dwell on what God forbids rather than on the countless blessings and promises he has given us. The next time you are feeling sorry for yourself because of what you don’t have, consider all you do have and thank God. Then your doubts won’t lead you into sin.

3:1 Disguised as a shrewd serpent, Satan came to tempt Eve. At one time, Satan had been a glorious angel. But in pride, he rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven. As a created being, Satan has definite limitations. Although he is trying to tempt everyone away from God, he will not be the final victor. In 3:14-15, God promises that Satan will be crushed by one of the woman’s offspring, the Messiah.

3:5 Adam and Eve got what they wanted: an intimate knowledge of both good and evil. But they got it by disobeying God, and the results were disastrous. Sometimes we have the illusion that freedom is doing anything we want. But God says that true freedom comes from obedience and knowing what not to do. The restrictions he gives us are for our good, helping us avoid evil. We have the freedom to walk in front of a speeding car, but we don’t need to be hit to realize it would be foolish to do so. Don’t listen to Satan’s temptations. You don’t have to do evil to gain more experience and learn more about life.

3:5 Satan used a sincere motive to tempt Eve, telling her that she would be like God if she ate the fruit. It wasn’t wrong of Eve to want to be like God. To become more like God is humanity’s highest goal. It is what we are supposed to do. But Satan misled Eve concerning the right way to accomplish this goal. He told her that she could become more like God by defying God’s authority, by taking God’s place and deciding for herself what was best for her life. In effect, he told her to become her own god.

But to become like God is not the same as trying to become God. Rather, it is to reflect his characteristics and to recognize his authority over your life. Like Eve, we often have a worthy goal but try to achieve it in the wrong way. Before you start, check your steps. Do they honor God as well as pursue the goal?

Self-exaltation leads to rebellion against God. As soon as we begin to leave God out of our plans, we are placing ourselves above him. This is exactly what Satan wants us to do.

3:6-7 One of the realities of sin is that its effects spread. After Eve sinned, she involved Adam in her wrongdoing. When we do something wrong, often we try to relieve our guilt by involving someone else. Like toxic waste spilled in a river, sin swiftly spreads. Recognize and confess your sin to God before you are tempted to pollute those around you.

3:6 Satan tried to make Eve think that sin is good, pleasant, and desirable. A knowledge of both good and evil seemed harmless to her. People usually choose wrong things because they have become convinced that those things are good, at least for them. Our sins do not always appear ugly to us, and the most pleasant sins are the hardest to avoid. So prepare yourself for the attractive temptations that may come your way. We cannot always prevent temptation, but there is always a way of escape from it (1 Corinthians 10:13). Use God’s Word and God’s people to help you stand against it.

3:6 Notice what Eve did: She looked, she took, she ate, and she gave. The battle is often lost at the first look. Temptation often begins by simply seeing something you want. Are you struggling with temptation because you have not learned that looking is the first step toward sin? You will overcome temptation more often if you follow Paul’s advice to run from those things that produce evil thoughts (2 Timothy 2:22).

3:7-8 After sinning, Adam and Eve felt guilt and embarrassment about their nakedness. Their guilty feelings made them try to hide from God. A guilty conscience is a warning signal God has placed inside you that goes off when you’ve done wrong. The worst step you can take is to eliminate the guilty feelings without eliminating the cause. That would be like using a painkiller but not treating the disease. Be glad those guilty feelings are there. They make you aware of your sin so you can ask God’s forgiveness and then correct your wrongdoing.

3:8-9 These verses show God’s desire to have fellowship with us. They also show why we are afraid to have fellowship with him. Adam and Eve hid from God when they heard him approaching. God wanted to be with them, but because of their sin, they were afraid to show themselves. Sin had broken their close relationship with God, just as it has broken ours. But Jesus Christ, God’s Son, opens the way for us to renew our fellowship with him. God longs to be with us. He actively offers us his unconditional love. Our natural response is fear because we feel we can’t live up to his standards. But understanding that he loves us, regardless of our faults, can help remove that dread.

3:8 The thought of two humans covered with fig leaves trying to hide from the all-seeing, all-knowing God seems ridiculous. How could they be so silly as to think they could actually hide? Yet we do the same thing, acting as though God doesn’t know what we’re doing. Have the courage to share all you do and think with him. And don’t try to hide—it can’t be done. Honesty will strengthen your relationship with God.

3:11-13 Adam and Eve failed to heed God’s warning recorded in 2:16-17. They did not understand the reasons for his command, so they chose to act in another way that looked better to them. All of God’s commands are for our own good, but we may not always understand the reasons behind them. People who trust God will obey him because he asks them to, whether or not they understand his reasons.

3:11-13 When God asked Adam about his sin, Adam blamed Eve. Then Eve blamed the serpent. How easy it is to excuse our sins by blaming someone else or our circumstances. But God knows the truth, and he holds each of us responsible for what we do (see 3:14-19). Admit your wrong attitudes and actions and apologize to God. Don’t try to get away with sin by shifting the blame.

3:14-24 Adam and Eve chose their course of action—disobedience—and then God chose his. As a holy God, he could respond only in a way consistent with his perfect moral nature. He could not allow sin to go unchecked; he had to punish it. If the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin seem extreme, remember that their sin set in motion the world’s tendency toward disobeying God. That is why we sin today: Every human being ever born, with the exception of Jesus, has inherited the sinful nature of Adam and Eve (Romans 5:12-21). Adam and Eve’s punishment reflects how seriously God views sin of any kind.

3:14-19 Adam and Eve learned by painful experience that because God is holy and hates sin, he must punish sinners. The rest of the book of Genesis recounts painful stories of lives ruined as a result of the Fall. Disobedience is sin, and it breaks our fellowship with God. But fortunately, God is willing to forgive us and to restore our relationship with him when we admit our sin.

3:15 Satan is our enemy. He will do anything he can to get us to follow his evil, deadly path. The phrase “you will strike his heel” refers to Satan’s repeated attempts to defeat Christ during his life on earth. “He will strike your head” foreshadows Satan’s defeat at Christ’s resurrection. A blow to the heel is not deadly, but a blow to the head is. Even in the Garden God was revealing his plan to defeat Satan and offer salvation to the world through his Son, Jesus Christ.

3:17-19 Adam and Eve’s disobedience and fall from God’s gracious presence affected all creation, including the environment. Years ago people thought nothing of polluting streams with chemical wastes and garbage. This seemed so insignificant, so small. Now we know that just two or three parts per million of certain chemicals can damage human health. Sin in our lives is similar to pollution in streams. Even small amounts are deadly, and the consequences reach far beyond us.

3:22-24 Life in the Garden of Eden was like living in heaven. Everything was perfect, and if Adam and Eve had obeyed God, they could have lived there forever. But after they disobeyed him, God told Adam and Eve to leave. If they had continued to live in the Garden and had eaten from the tree of life, they would have lived forever. But eternal life in a state of sin would mean forever trying to hide from God. Like Adam and Eve, all of us have sinned and are separated from fellowship with God. But because of Jesus’ sacrificial death for us, we do not have to stay separated from God. In fact, God is preparing a new earth as an eternal paradise for his people (see Revelation 21–22). To ensure our place there one day, let us accept his invitation to come to him (Revelation 22:17).

The first verse of the Bible states unequivocally, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Then, after creating the land and seas and all the plants and animals and pronouncing them “good” (see, for example, Genesis 1:24), “. . . God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). The first chapter of John’s Gospel provides this insight: “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him” (John 1:1–3). (Christ is the eternal Word.) This all means . . .

· God’s original creation was “good,” perfect.

· God created perfect human beings—one male and one female—to live in, enjoy, and take care of the rest of creation.

So this begs many questions relating to the purpose of nature and the responsibility of human beings for it.

In what ways has nature changed since Creation?

Romans 5:12

When Adam and Eve sinned, sin entered the world. Adam and Eve's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in God’s perfect creation in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the world and changed everything.

Psalm 51:5

For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. From that point on, every person was born with a sin nature and born into a sinful fallen world.

Ephesians 2:3

All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. And because of our sinful nature and our sins, we are separated from God and deserving of his punishment.

Genesis 3:16–19

And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.” The immediate effects of Adam and Eve’s sin include pain in childbirth, relational conflict, great difficulty in sustaining life, and physical death. Nature also experienced dramatic changes, including the introduction of “thorns and thistles.”

Romans 8:20–22

Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Solemnity of Saint George, Martyr

Saint George,

Sculpture by Donatello (1386-1466),

Sculpted between 1415-1417,

White marble

© Bargello Museum, Florence

Gospel Reading

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before you.

If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you do not belong to the world, because my choice withdrew you from the world, therefore the world hates you.

Remember the words I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they kept my word, they will keep yours as well.

But it will be on my account that they will do all this, because they do not know the one who sent me.’

Reflection on the Sculpture

Saint George, widely venerated as a Christian martyr and the patron saint of various entities including England, soldiers, and scouts, was a historical figure who lived during the late 3rd century AD in the Roman province of Cappadocia, which is now modern-day Turkey. Little is known about his early life, but according to tradition, George was a Roman soldier who courageously professed his Christian faith and refused to renounce it, even in the face of persecution. The most famous legend about him recounts how he heroically defeated a fearsome dragon that was terrorizing the city of Silene, rescued a princess and converted the city's inhabitants to Christianity. Despite the mythical elements surrounding his story, Saint George's steadfast devotion to his faith and his unwavering courage in the face of adversity have made him a beloved and revered figure in Christian tradition, celebrated for his virtues of bravery, chivalry, and selflessness.

Our Saint George sculpture is by Donatello. It is one of fourteen commissioned by the guilds of Florence to decorate the external niches of the Orsanmichele church in Florence. St. George was commissioned by the guild of the armorers and sword makers (the Arte dei Corazzai e Spadai). Saint George is sculptured as a young, brave, determined and strong man in armour. He is not standing in contrapposto, although his right leg is turned to the same angle as his shield, visibly his weight is on both legs. Even though he is fully clothed, there is still the sense of a muscular body underneath, typically Renaissance sculpture. His right hand originally probably held some sort of a blade. Drill marks on his head indicate that he probably also wore some kind of (bronze) helmet or (gold) wreath. St George's eyes are looking up and his face indicates some kind of anxiety and emotionality before attacking the dragon.

2 Peter 1:17

when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

And he received honor and glory from God the Father when God’s glorious, majestic voice called down from heaven, “This is my beloved Son; I am fully pleased with him.”

Hebrews 2:9

What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. What we do see is Jesus, who “for a little while was made lower than the angels” and now is “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death for us.

John 8:49-50

“No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me. And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God wants to glorify me. Let him be the judge.”

God and Jesus set the example of the importance of giving and receiving honor. They declare it good and important.

1 Corinthians 6:20

for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Romans 13:7

Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and import duties, and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due.

1 Peter 2:17

Show respect for everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God. Show respect for the king.

Giving honor is acknowledging how we value and respect others.

Philippians 2:3

Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.

Luke 14:11

For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.

Proverbs 18:12

Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.

Matthew 23:11-12

The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Giving and receiving honor is a part of Christian humility, because it seeks to lift someone else up, sometimes at our own expense.

Psalm 34:3

Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 107:32

Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation.

Romans 12:10

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

1 Corinthians 8:1

Now let’s talk about food that has been sacrificed to idols. You think that everyone should agree with your perfect knowledge. While knowledge may make us feel important, it is love that really builds up the church.

Easter Wednesday - The Supper at Emmaus

Friend of the Humble (Supper at Emmaus),

Painted by Léon-Augustin L'Hermitte (1824-1925),

Painted in 1892,

Oil on canvas

© Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Gospel Reading

Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognising him. He said to them, ‘What matters are you discussing as you walk along?’ They stopped short, their faces downcast.

Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.’ ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘All about Jesus of Nazareth’ they answered ‘who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.’

Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself.

When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. ‘It is nearly evening’ they said ‘and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’

They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, ‘Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.

Reflection on the painting

Our painting combines today's Gospel story, where Jesus is breaking bread and the onlookers suddenly recognise him, with portraying Jesus as Friend of the Humble, the title of our painting. I do think this is a beautiful, gentle, gripping painting. Three generations of a family are depicted, sharing a meal. Before Léon-Augustin L'Hermitte painted this canvas it would be fair to say that artists always tried to represent Jesus as majestic, full of glory and maybe somewhat distant from normal day-to-day life. Our artist masterfully places Jesus in a contemporary setting of 1892, when this was painted. The painting emphasises that Jesus became human and that he did walk among us.

Vincent van Gogh was one of L'Hermitte's greatest admirers. In one of his letters he wrote: "If every month Le Monde Illustré published one of his compositions... it would be a great pleasure for me to be able to follow it. It is certain that for years I have not seen anything as beautiful as this scene by L'Hermitte... I am too preoccupied by L'Hermitte this evening to be able to talk of other things." Quite the accolade to have Van Gogh write about one's artistry this way.

As the risen Lord approached the two disciples, his first act was to draw them into conversation, asking them to share the nature of their discussion. He sought to hear their tale; a tale filled with sorrow and loss. He wanted to fully engage with them in their moment of grief. He accepted them as they were, demonstrating a profound respect for their current state on their spiritual journey. This is precisely how the Lord presents himself to us: he encounters us in our present circumstances, encouraging us to open our hearts to him, to express our deepest thoughts and feelings. It was only after attentively hearing the disciples' lament that the unrecognized visitor responded. His words cast their despairing narrative in an entirely new light. He made sense of their grief, by placing it in the greater narrative of God's plan - a narrative not concluded by death, but crowned with light and triumph.

Matthew 12:25

“Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.”

While we must recognize the battle over sin that constantly goes on within us, we must be committed to standing against it. Failing to stand against sin in your own life pits self against self, which is doomed to destroy you. If you allow Satan to command a strategic area of your life, he will defeat you.

Galatians 5:17, 22

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. . . . But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

"Before Abraham was, I am."

Scenes from the Story of Abraham,

An English linen needlework panel,

Worked with silk thread; tent and couching stitches,

Mid 17th century

© Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Gospel Reading

Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.' The Jews said to him, 'Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, "Whoever keeps my word will never taste death." Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?' Jesus answered, 'If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, "He is our God", though you do not know him. But I know him; if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word.

Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.' Then the Jews said to him, 'You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?' Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.' So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Reflection on the Needlework Panel

The beautiful 17th-century English needlework panel depicts some scenes from the Story of Abraham, as recounted in the Book of Genesis. The central scene shows Abraham being informed by a host of angels that his wife Sarah will bear him a son, despite her (and his) advanced age. We can also see Abraham banishing his servant Hagar and her son by Abraham, Ishmael (lower left corner), and Abraham's attempted sacrifice of Sarah's son Isaac, the act he was ordered by God to perform as a test of his faith (upper right corner).

In today's Gospel reading Jesus makes an extraordinary claim that leads the Jewish leaders to want to stone him, ‘Before Abraham was, I am’. This claim of Jesus in the Gospel of John is in keeping with the opening line of that Gospel, ‘In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God’. Jesus existed with God in the beginning, before the creation of the world. He was before Abraham was, indeed, before anything had come into being. Yet, the Word who was with God in the beginning became flesh. He became like us in all things, except sin. While on earth, he remained with God. Having returned to God through his death and resurrection, he remains with us.

In the lead up to Holy Week, Jesus continues to reveal his true identity. Here he declares himself to be God, by stating that he existed before Abraham lived, thus revealing his divine nature. This is another one of the great "I am" sayings of Jesus in which he clearly states who he is.

We feel the tensions building up now towards the crucifixion. Because Jesus made claims such as this one, the Jewish rulers consider him a very real threat to their power and authority. They cannot let him continue to teach and attract more and more followers. Something has to be done about him. Jesus knows that the time is drawing near, and so his teachings become more and more intense, straight-to-the-point and urgent….