Christ as triumphant Redeemer,
Painted by the circle of Jan Sanders van Hemessen (1500-1566),
Mid 16th century,
Oil on panel
© Sotheby’s New York, 30 January 2019, lot 17
Christ as triumphant Redeemer,
Painted by the circle of Jan Sanders van Hemessen (1500-1566),
Mid 16th century,
Oil on panel
© Sotheby’s New York, 30 January 2019, lot 17
If your brother does something wrong, reprove him
Luke 17:1-6
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Obstacles are sure to come, but alas for the one who provides them! It would be better for him to be thrown into the Sea with a millstone put round his neck than that he should lead astray a single one of these little ones. Watch yourselves!
If your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.’
The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ The Lord replied, ‘Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’
Reflection on the painting
'If your brother does something wrong, reprove him’ Jesus tells us today. This may sound a little harsh at first, but upon deeper reflection it isn’t. There is a big difference between ‘telling someone off’ and ‘reproving them’. Telling someone off comes out of a negative place; it comes out of a place of annoyance or impatience. The ‘reproving’ Jesus mentions comes out of a place of love and generosity. It is done with the intention of genuinely helping the other person: to help him or her to grow, improve, be a better person. It is what parents do with their children, wanting only the very best for them. Whilst receiving praise is flattering and motivating, it rarely helps us grow as a person. Often the criticism we receive, if it comes from a place of genuine love, can truly help us to grow.
Also this word of ‘reproving’ is a beautiful word, as it implies a certain gentleness within it and a kindness of intent. Just like in art REstoring a painting or REpairing an antique piece of furniture, brings back great beauty and radiance to the work of art, so can the REproving we receive from our friends, colleagues, mentors, etc, genuinely help us to bring us (back) in line with what God wants from us and make us shine.
Restoration in the context of art is a vital and often delicate process that aims to preserve, repair, and sometimes even rejuvenate works of art. It doesn't replace the artwork or intrinsically change it. No, it helps to bring it back to its splendour and purpose. The process of restoration involves ethical considerations and decisions. Restorers must carefully balance the desire to return the work to its original condition with the understanding that some alterations may be part of the artwork's history and should be preserved. So must we do when we reprove someone in the spiritual life, never wanting to fundamentally alter the person in front of us, but only to help him or her come back to the purpose God intended.
Our panel, painted by the circle of Jan Sanders van Hemessen, had until very recently been nearly completely over-painted, thus masking the incredibly well preserved original composition lying underneath. A thick layer of varnish made the painting virtually unreadable. Restoration brought it back to its former glory, the way the painting was intended to be seen.
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I know it is so important to guide others to Jesus both in struggle and in happiness. When one makes a mistake, we should NOT hate them, we should HELP them. Corrective action is widely used today and even was in Jesus time and even before then. Correcting someone does not have to be harsh, you can show them scriptures, help them improve on how they speak to and about others. Whilst correcting someone, we should also forgive them, for if they are sorry, they need forgiveness. Jesus forgave us in our sin, and we sin everyday, why shouldn’t we forgive others with the grace and mercy Jesus has shown us?
Mi oración de hoy: Contemplo la escena, los discípulos le piden a Jesús: “Auméntanos la fe”. Ellos saben que tienen fe pero se dan cuenta de que es débil.
Y yo también le hago esa petición
¿soy consciente de la importancia de la fe? ¿qué sería de mi sin la fe?
Le doy gracias a Dios por la fe y por todos los que me han ayudado a tener y permanecer en la fe cristiana.
I used to think I was fairly literate, but this has stopped me. I can’t think that I’ve ever consciously used or preferred “reproof” over any other criticism of another’s behaviour. In fact, I had to look it up in my dictionary, which includes in the definitions concepts of “shame” and “scorn”, both strong terms. As well as “rejection by God” which doesn’t seem very gentle at all. Also “reprobate” derives from the same source, which I’ve always thought of as rather harsh. The whole caboodle may link to “prove”, as in testing, app-/dis- proving.
“Forgiveness” on the other hand, as has already been said, releases the forgiver from the ill deed and enables them to move on: it doesn’t even need to be sought (although it’s nice if it is).
I rather like today’s painting, although it needs looking at a few times. The perspective, slightly below the subject, the three-quarter angle, and the undeniable masculinity give a different perspective (!) to Jesus, so often shown as bland and anodyne. No wonder it was over painted. This is one of several similar paintings by the same artist, and the most “close-up”. It certainly shows how much influenced he was by the Italian artists with whom he studied (compare with “David” by Michaelangelo). The full-body halo or aureole is also striking.
I seem to have missed the window for editing, so just an observation on “criticism”: so often demoralising, whether lovingly meant or not (often associated with the adjective “carping”). A good way to hide any love for the object of one’s criticism, and by careful choice of words can also be cutting and belittling.
😊 And of course Zeffi, there will be a new translation for the scriptures starting next Advent (2024) You can be that ‘reproof’ will be out!
On forgiveness……
a while back, I listened to this one priest’s homily about forgiveness…..he was explaining how he was super angry about an event that happened to him…..and he couldn’t forgive the person……if I recall it was a car accident and this person ruined the priest’s car and caused him injuries and pain, etc……..anyway, Fr. just would obsess over it and get angry and he went to his mentor…….and he told Fr. to say this simple prayer: BLESS THEM, CHANGE ME…..and whenever he would get angry and obsess over the accident, he would say the prayer and almost meditate……he said it worked and that’s why he was sharing this.
Well…..sure enough, I have a hard time forgiving……I’m not even Irish LOL…that’s a joke, you know about how the Irish never forgive and never forget …I kid the Irish LOL……anyway, i thought i would try the prayer…..AND IT DOES WORK at least it does for me……..you just focus on the simple prayer and replace the anger, and being unforgiving, with the prayer…..in time, you feel better…….okay then, I hope i can share this useful technique I learned and it works for others the way it did for me.
Yes, that does work. Even for us Irish.
Thank you so much Jamie. I love this. I remember a priest in Medjugore told me to ‘place the person in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.’ Helps too.
Just kidding. Actually I am only half Irish! 🤣🤣🤣
well, Anthony….whats the good half then? I couldn’t resist…horrible joke! (with a name like that, I bet you have some Italian in you!)
Strange, my PP tells a similar story!
interesting…….has he ever been to New Jersey?
That is brilliant Jamie – I can see that it would definitely work. The two components of the prayer – plus the Holy Spirit – how could it fail? Thanks for that👍😊
If a person deliberately provokes another to do wrong, is that person just as guilty of that wrong?
Pretty much I think- both are complicit
It seems to me ‘If’ should be ‘When’. I don’t get that it that reproving is inherently gentle; I believe I can choose to reprove gently, though. To me, reproving is just another word for correcting. I do not know what is best for anyone else. I do not even know what is best for me. I do know when someone asks for my forgiveness, I must do so for their sake. Sometimes what others are asking forgiveness for is something I don’t even remember. Other times someone does not ask for forgiveness for something that I cannot forget. That is, I cannot forget unless I forgive myself for taking offense when none was intended. I am convinced forgiveness is intended for the forgiver and not the forgiven. That sets me free. I do believe the forgiven can benefit from my forgiveness, but the primary recipient is me.
Wise words George
Yes SfG. I agree with George as well. How often do we feel affronted by a word or action, when no harm was intended?
I know a dear lady whose sister had never spoken to her again after such an incident. She sought forgiveness in many ways, calls, letters, to no avail. Days before she died, she spoke to me about it, and was in much distress, that she was clearly going to die without any reconciliation. At her funeral, I made up my mind to speak to her brother and ask him to pass on to the younger sister that lady’s heartfelt wish to heal the rift; he spoke to me at length about the personalities of those two and said he would do that. The whole point was that harm was done, but no harm was intended. So sad.
So yes, how many times must I forgive my brother for real, or imagined, hurt? Seventy times seven….
Interestingly, I’m not sure the verb “reprove” is, ‘in it’. In the Greek the word is epitimeson: “Definition: to honor, to mete out due measure, to censure. Usage: (a) I rebuke, chide, admonish, (b) I warn.” I might put ‘IN due measure’.
That is, ‘meet’ my brother/sister’s wronging against me with the most appropriate: warning, correction, yes and humor/humility/wise-chide/charitable rebuke as to instigate THEIR ‘freedom’ – as you well articulate George – to beg our pardon… “for their sake”.
But is there’s a rhyme and reason for the carrying admonitions of Jesus’s thread of meaning that Luke has listed here today? Let’s try something; I hope I’m not stretching it.
Life is in fact , matter of obstacles, struggles and challenges. Jesus was all TOOOO aware of this life-inevitability, that would ultimately bring Him to the foot of His own cross. But , playing the Devils Advocate, might not His concern be indeed for, ‘our’ response to those who are the most marginalized/”little ones”. Yes I know, our modern default is re: the pedophile acting on. But more in context with what Jesus is trying to ‘get us at’ today is re: how we treat those who wrong us. If we drive them every deeper in their sin by ‘denial/false/easy codependent -enmeshment, avoidance, by our ‘over-varnishing and re-rendered/appropriated Christianity in our own image’ … hmmmm better instead it seems we ‘throw ourselves into the sea’.
Why??
Because the world filling with unforgiveness. Because, in Christ we have the ‘keys’ of forgiveness – and that dire responsibility. Because, we can stop the vicious circle of sin. Because we are the ones, when faced with those caught in sin to, ”WATCH OURSELVES” and respond Like Christ… and have not. Because, if only there were an army of St. Maximilians in the day of Hitler. Because, the global calamity awaiting will be all on account of the church’s failure to forgive our enemies, ‘well’; to stand up and protest properly in the face of tyrannies. If we but recognize the unearthly power we have as Other Christ’s to ‘honor’ in efficient measure those caught in sin. Well, could we as true Christians not prevent World War, and have world leaders obedient to the Gospel under our leadership?
In theory, then yes. In practice, rarely. Power often opens up to pride, and that has always been man’s greatest downfall and can only lead to corruption. We have to hand it all back to Him who has no pride, only compassion.
Yes – cursing the darkness instead of lighting a candle.
That was an interesting lecture but the answer is no. Most tyrannies are not Christian. However you don’t have to be Christian to know the difference between right and wrong.
I am focused on the distinction in today’s reading between “reprove” and “forgive.” This surely reflects my state of mind. Jesus’ words seem to make the first mandatory and the second conditional.
Yes, the forgiveness here seems dependent on the apology from the other party. If they say sorry we are able to forgive, if not then forgiveness is a silent act on our part, maybe awaiting the apology that will never come. We can forgive in our own hearts, though, and that liberates us from any control they may seek to have over us. That’s how I see it at least.
You are so right. Anger over an apology that’s not coming will consume us. Forgiveness will release us.
Thank you!
You have articulated that perfectly SFG.. the liberation …and not being controlled by it … thank you