Follow-up to Gospel Reflection for 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time


Two Sundays ago, I used the above image with the Gospel Reflection for that weekend for Mark 4:35-41. It was an image which I had never seen before, but was drawn to immediately. Since then, I’ve learned it was a painting by Rembrandt titled, “Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee”. Dated 1633, it was the only seascape he’d painted in his lifetime. Unfortunately, the painting, along with twelve other pieces of art, was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston in 1990. To this date, they have not been recovered.


When I first saw the painting, I saw the darkness of the storm & the fearfulness of the disciples while Jesus slept. Basically, I saw the description of the event from the Gospel. I tend to look at the broader picture when I first see a beautiful piece of art, appreciating it for its overall design. As such, I didn’t notice all the striking details. It wasn’t until I took a closer look, zooming in on the men in the boat, that I saw the following:


  • Four disciples attempting to fix the sail of the boat 

  • One man fearfully watching them

  • A disciple getting sick over the edge of the boat

  • Two men trying to tighten or hold on to the ropes

  • Two disciples waking Jesus 

  • One disciple struggling to guide the boat with a lone oar

  • One disciple looking resigned to the situation & impending death

  • One man with his hands folded & facing Jesus as if in prayer


If you’ve counted the number of disciples along with Jesus mentioned above, you will see there are actually fourteen men in the boat. Jesus & the twelve disciples, but who else is there? It is believed that Rembrandt painted himself in the boat (the man with the hat holding the rope & looking out of the painting towards us). One thought is that this was his way of expressing his belief in this Gospel story. Perhaps he is reassuring us that we, too, can go to Jesus whenever the storms of life shake us. 


************

SIDE NOTE: This is the second Rembrandt painting I’ve been drawn to in my life. The first was "The Return of the Prodigal Son”. My interest in that painting came after reading Henri J.M. Nouwen’s book of the same title. Fourteen years ago, I wrote a three-part reflection on my former blog. You can read the first part HERE & there are links to the other two parts at the end of that post.


- Maria


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gospel Reflection - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Image
Genesis 2:18-24 & Mark 10:2-16 Both the first reading and the Gospel speak to the sanctity of the bonds of marriage and family.  In the first reading, we hear about God creating Eve to be a suitable partner for Adam.  The two become one flesh, man and woman joined together to not only keep one another company, but to procreate and tend to the land.  In the Gospel, once again those Pharisees are trying to trip up Jesus.  His reply is an admonishment to their hardened hearts, reaffirming that marriage is for one man and one woman and that no human can separate what God has joined.   Unfortunately, we have become a throwaway society.  We overbuy food that ends up spoiled and tossed.  Clothing and furniture tears or breaks and rather than repairing them, we throw them out.  We get rid of things in good condition when the newest model is released (game systems, cell phone).  The same applies even to marriages and friendships.  I have...
Read more

10th National Eucharistic Congress Highlights

Image
On May 17, 2024, four pilgrimage routes began in Mississippi, Connecticut, Wisconsin, & California. The purpose was to cross our nation, presenting Jesus to the people of America, & meeting in Indianapolis for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress July 17. Along the way, with Jesus present in the monstrance, the perpetual pilgrims made stops at parishes, schools, & prisons. You can read more about the pilgrimage HERE . About 60,000 people gathered at The National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, July 17-21, to adore our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, attend Mass daily, pray together, & listen to great speakers.  Fr. Mike Schmitz, Monsignor James Shea, Bishop Robert Barron, Jonathan Roumie, Sr. Bethany Madonna, Chris Stefanik, & more shared their great love of our Lord & how much of an impact the Eucharist has had in their lives.  Unfortunately , I couldn't make it to Indiana, but I was able to watch many of the speakers live & on YouTube....
Read more

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Image
Well, here we are already...the 4th Sunday of Advent has arrived!  Have you finished your Christmas shopping & wrapped all the presents, baked your holiday delectables, mailed your Christmas greeting cards, decorated your home to rival any display of Martha Stewart's? If you're like most people, you probably answered that you're nowhere near being finished. But you know what? That's perfectly fine because none of those items are important in the grand scheme of things.  The bigger & most important question to be answered is, "Have you prepared your heart to receive Jesus on Christmas Day?" After all, without Jesus' humble birth in a stable over 2000 years ago, none of the other things above would have any significant meaning! Today's Gospel tells us that Mary, upon being told that she would bring our Savior into the world, set off in haste to her cousin, Elizabeth. Advanced in age, Elizabeth was experiencing a miraculous pregnancy, foretold by...
Read more