Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat,
Painting by Simon de Myle,
Painted in 1570
Oil on panel
© Private Collection, France
Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat,
Painting by Simon de Myle,
Painted in 1570
Oil on panel
© Private Collection, France
As it was in Noah’s day
Luke 17:26-37
Jesus said to the disciples:
‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it also be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It will be the same as it was in Lot’s day: people were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but the day Lot left Sodom, God rained fire and brimstone from heaven and it destroyed them all. It will be the same when the day comes for the Son of Man to be revealed.
‘When that day comes, anyone on the housetop, with his possessions in the house, must not come down to collect them, nor must anyone in the fields turn back either. Remember Lot’s wife. Anyone who tries to preserve his life will lose it; and anyone who loses it will keep it safe. I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed: one will be taken, the other left; two women will be grinding corn together: one will be taken, the other left.’ The disciples interrupted. ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked. He said, ‘Where the body is, there too will the vultures gather.’
Reflection on the painting
Painted in 1570, this is the only work known to be painted by Simon de Myle, of whom we know very little. The painting is signed Simone de Myle inventor et fecit 1570. Apart from that we don't know anything about the artist, which is interesting in itself as the painting is of wonderful quality, skill and inventiveness of composition. We see animals in pairs leaving Noah's ark after the flood is over. We see birds flying out of the ark filling the skies. We even spot two dragons flying off and a unicorn towards the front of the ship, as the popular belief amongst some people back in the 16th century was that dragons and unicorns did exist 'somewhere'. But as soon as we see the animals leave the ark and being back on earthly soil, we see them picking up their old habits: the lion is devouring a horse; a tree has been flayed; a dead animal is lying in front of two women….
Our Gospel reading today starts with the words 'As it was in Noah's day…'. The people in Noah's time ignored the Lord's warning of judgment. They missed the boat, literally!
The gospel reading this morning warns against being so absorbed in the ordinary things of life that we neglect what is of ultimate importance. Eating and drinking, buying, selling, planting and building, marrying, partying, are all part of life, but they are not of ultimate importance. Above and beyond of all this activity there sits a much deeper reality: the Son of Man.
Share this Gospel Reading
Did you like this Gospel reading and art reflection?
Join in the discussion about this artwork & Gospel reading
Readings related to Luke 17:26-37
Join our community
In addition to receiving our Daily Gospel Reading and Art Reflection, signing up for a free membership allows you to:
- Comment and interact with fellow members
- Save your favorite readings & artworks
- Access member’s only content
Father, you wrote: “But as soon as we see the animals leave the ark and being back on earthly soil, we see them picking up their old habits: the lion is devouring a horse; a tree has been flayed; a dead animal is lying in front of two women….”
Father, it’s rather depressing what you wrote there……..
animals cannot change their instinct ….. although I do think some dogs can change …. yet, man has reason….with reason and effort, we can change…..
although, sometimes, I wonder if we really want to change…… this time of year, it’s rather difficult to not overindulge …sometimes a stiff drink can take the edge off LOL….ok I should not joke like that when i get upset.
This might help others…..how the 7 virtues can conquer the 7 deadly sins:
Temperance overcomes the sin of gluttony.
Generosity overcomes the sin of greed.
Kindness overcomes the sin of envy.
Meekness overcomes the sin of anger.
Humility overcomes the sin of pride.
Diligence overcomes the sin of sloth.
Chastity overcomes the sin of lust.
Thank you all for your thoughtful comments. I’ll reflect on this painting and the Gospel reading all day. That’s a good feeling.
I like the curved shape of the ark, the upward tilt of the eaves of the cabin. And I enjoy looking at the well-engineered ramp leading down from the ship. The animals and people look like they could use a good meal!
Best wishes for you to enjoy a blessed day in God’s Creation. ✝️⚓️❤️
Four days of constant rain here in the northern south…maybe time to build your ark…you do not know the hour….& don’t forget your oil!
Hope it dries out soon!
I like today’s painting. I find it interesting that the artist included mythical creatures like dragons, unicorns, and griffins. I see what looks like a dead unicorn at the feet of the the two women and one still on the ark. Thus they were not able to reproduce so no more unicorns. The mythical creatures in painting takes me back to when I read books like The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, and The Chronicles of Narnia.
Mi reflexión de hoy: El Hijo del Hombre puede venir de muchas maneras, pasa a nuestro lado y llama. A veces quisiera producir en nosotros, un gran cataclismo, “el fin del mundo”, para que nazca algo nuevo en nosotros. Y puede que estemos despistados o muy apegados al presente, creo que ese es el significado de “recoger los bienes” “salvar la vida”. Nos aferramos a lo de siempre y nos resistimos a la novedad y a la sorpresa que Dios nos ofrece.
Creo Noelle que Jesús no elude la pregunta. Los que nos resistimos a la novedad y a la sorpresa que Dios quiere para nosotros, estamos eligiendo que “nuestro cuerpo reúna a los buitres”, no elegimos la Vida
Thanks, Elvira. I understand what you’re saying, so Jesus is answering the question with reference to those who are left behind, not with reference to those who are taken….
Los que son llevados, son los que (Noé y Lot) han sido capaces de superar las situaciones límites de la vida, o han resistido la tentación: ellos caminan hacia la Vida; y los que viven despistados y apegados a sus zonas de confort caminan hacia la muerte., donde acudirán los buitres,
Por otra parte los buitres (animales impuros), en el Antiguo Testamento están relacionados con una muerte deshonrosa: la exposición a aves rapaces después de la muerte era un destino terrible y deshonroso.(No se las citas)
Yes Elvira Noelle, re: “The Question”
Today’s piece is somehow very paralleled with Bruegel’s “The Procession to Calvary” a few days ago. I’m thinking Simone de Myle would have been inspired by Bruegel’s work.
I like your reference:
“Sometimes He would like to create in us a great cataclysm …Those of us who resist the novelty and surprise that God wants for us are choosing that “our body gathers the vultures”, we are not choosing Life”
From investigating Bruegel’s “Procession…” I was put onto a very VERY interesting movie: Lech Majewski’s “The Mill and the Cross” (on You Tube) … it explores in depth mood of both paintings so well – including the ‘gathering of vultures’ .
Real Art is always ‘prophetic’: … certainly there is a ‘gathering’ afoot these days.
Thank you very much for the tip Fr Will – I’ll look at that
Very interesting, Will, shall look out for the film. I like that these paintings send us off down other avenues.
Muy verdadero: el buen arte siempre es profético
In hot countries, vultures are well-known to be the sanitary department of the natural world, removing flesh and organs that would cause a health hazard if allowed to rot in situ. However, I feel the disciples were asking what would happen to those who were taken. So why did Jesus seem to side-step the question? If I’ve read it wrong, I hope someone will explain.
An intriguing painting by an almost unknown artist in a private collection, is a treat. Many of the non-European animals will probably only have been known to the artist through the work of other artists, so to our eyes there’s a touch of fantasy to the painting, especially if you include unicorns and dragons/dinosaurs!
But it’s sad: life red in tooth and claw, starting all over again. The two women at bottom right look rather stunned, perhaps they haven’t got their land legs back yet. For me, a note of amusement is the cat, seated near the two women, and apparently alone, with that typical cat expression, “nothing to do with me”.
The magnificent boat is the hero of the painting, God-inspired, man-made, a shelter against catastrophe. Noah listened to God. That’s what we strive to do, to listen, to understand and to obey. But it’s not easy, it’s our daily, often difficult challenge. We strive to keep faith with God, we may not always understand his plan, why things happen, but we can say rescue is at hand, the boat of our salvation, with Jesus at the tiller, to calm the storms, and we know Jesus had a track record with boats…..
If the RNLI* can rescue no matter whom, for nothing, and at all times of day and night, and in all weathers, how much more can Jesus rescue us…… Amen.
*RNLI = Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a feature of island life in Britain.
A wonderful response Noelle- always something interesting and inspiring to say- thankyou. So right about the lifeboats- a great charity!
They are a terrific example to us. Always remember the loss of the Penlee lifeboat, which went down with all hands in December 1981, while attempting a rescue in stormy seas in the middle of the night.
Thank you Noelle. I am also pondering the answer Jesus gives when the “disciples interrupted.”
Any further forward, Mark?
Yes, Noelle, and thank you. I believe I have finally turned a corner. I am remembering Lot’s wife, and trying not to look back. Blessings, Mark
Noelle, this probably will not address your question. Way back in the past, I had a few very close friends who would discuss our ‘insides’ with each other instead of talking about other people or trivialities. I was, and I still am a wee bit, someone who is very hard on myself. When I voiced my concerns about my defects instead of my assets to them, someone would eventually say, “Don’t let the vultures get ya,” meaning I can choose to think positive thoughts instead of negative thoughts. My belief is that I am a spiritual being having a human experience. When I focused on my human failures, I was feeding the vultures. When I focused on my spiritual successes, I was feeding my inner Beloved Child of God. I’m not sure what any of this has to do with today’s devotion, it’s just what popped into my head when I read it.
I view you readers as very close friends who I can talk to about my ‘insides’ today. 😊 Thank you!
Hmm..today the vulture population nowadays is critically endangered. It seems to be due to them eating corpses which contain prescription drugs, fine for us, but lethal to them. The Tibetans are having a problem as they always adopted ‘sky burials’ but now there are no vultures to do the job.
I like your sharing though – you can give your insides to us, but not to the birds!
Evening, Patricia. I saw this described in a documentary not so long ago, very worrying.
I like that, George: “don’t let the vultures get ya”. Thank you for sharing, we’re very blessed to have this forum.
Lol.. we must be great friends to share such George 🤣🙏🌷
Thanks Noelle. Your question has held sway for me.
“However, I feel the disciples were asking what would happen to those who were taken. So why did Jesus seem to side-step the question? If I’ve read it wrong, I hope someone will explain.”
I’ve always read it that Jesus is in fact answering the disciples by indicating ‘where’ this ‘rapturing’ will take place. But bare in mind. I am a convert, and there are pervasive scriptural, let us call them, ‘Protestant biblical limitations’ that become almost a ‘given biblical culture’. This is just such a verse. Though as it goes, there is a partial sense in it too.
We as Catholics don’t believe in the Rapture, for good scriptural reason. We do believe in the Parousia. In the said text, your question as to ‘where do the person’s that are taken go’, re: the Disciples question, turns out to be very important in terms of ‘getting the meaning of the text’.
I went looking for some good Catholic commentary on the Lk 17:37. But in all my study bibles I didn’t find any; … I guess commentators stay away from this obscure saying …that might cause confusion with the ‘Rapturist. ‘ But then, I came across this STARTLING You Tube : “Luke 17:37″ – the most overlooked end time prophecy.” Please take a look at it – only 10 minutes.
In it a young Protestant/Rapturist … ‘does his homework’ …and has to do an about face theologically. Through a robust exegesis, he discovers that ‘the Taken’ are not in fact the ‘righteous’ … who are taken to heaven – as per Rapture belief. NO, they are the wicked who are taken to the place of corpses/post-battlefields – God’s wrath.
But going a li’l further, we need to return to Bruegel’s “Procession of Calvary” from a few days ago. Also on You Tube is a brilliant Polish film by Lech Majewski, “The Mill and the Cross” which delves deeply into the painting. And there we see those infamous wheels held aloft on poles that held their dying victims up for the ‘birds/crows ‘ to feed on. But here is an important, albeit moot point. In contrast to the thought ‘vultures’, as commonly seen translated., the Greek word in Luke’s text is ‘aetoi’ – Eagle.
Bruegel’s point is, the superimposition of Calvary/the Cross, on the barbarity of medieval Europe. The place of the ‘Piercing’, of nails and of the eagles scavenging breaks, is Mt Calvary …where the damed are hung on Crosses – where Christ has gone before us … to bring Salvation. But where we ‘the righteous that are left -awaiting the PAROUSIA – find the company of the Faithful at the foot of the Cross … with St John … who is symbolized as The Eagle. The Eagle symbolizing Faithful who ‘rise’ up to God’s sovereignty over Death and the world of sin.
Sorry this has gotten a li’l long and convoluted … but I hope you’ve got the idea.
Gracious, Will, many thanks for that most fascinating delve into scripture. I’m going to have to spend a while getting to grips with it and watch the young Protestant you speak of. 🦅🦅
“…‘the Taken’ are not in fact the ‘righteous’ … who are taken to heaven – as per Rapture belief. NO, they are the wicked who are taken to the place of corpses/post-battlefields – God’s wrath.” This is such an interesting interpretation. Thank you, Will, for this food for thought.
I feel I have a lot to notice and say about this painting. I love the movement of the birds as they come rushing out of their confinement. I like the way the women are just sitting having a natter in the foreground, and the way the animals are not quite how we see them now. Of course, most people hadn’t seen these animals in reality and so painted an impression of how they thought they must look! For this reason I think my favourites are the rhinos on the far right, who seem to look like rocks in the landscape at first glance.
The style reminds me of Bosch, but also we have a typical renaissance landscape in the background. It is obvious the Ark has not rested in top pf a mountain at all, but seems to be in a bit of a valley. There is a hint of a sunrise but no rainbow! For me the rainbow is the best part of Noah’s story- the sign of a covenant made that we can see often in our skies today!
The reading is repeating the same message as recently- the Kingdom isn’t something remote and distant in the future, but here and now in our everyday lives. Not just in the prayers we make or the hymns we sing, the art we create, but in the dullness and drudgery of things. During lockdown, doing the same dull and repetitive tasks every day I learned a lot about meditation and attempting to be ‘present’ at all times. I realised that ‘nothing is trivial,’ and even wrote it down and stuck it on my kitchen wall. It all matters. That is what I take from this today, the smallest creature to the most grandiose act of human creativity. It all matters. This is not to contradict Father Patrick’s comment, but to say it has to be joined up, the eternal soul with the temporary body. The sacred and the mundane should be one and the same expression for the love we have for each other, for ourselves, and for the God who created this wonderful and marvellous world.
Thank you for this meditation, SfG.
I really like your saying “nothing is trivial” – so very important….and your mention of the birds leaving the ark. Which emboldens me to recount the three-bird experience yesterday! Seagulls paddling on the grass to bring up earthworms; a line of pigeons above a store sign, gently cooing among themselves; a skein of geese flying east, calling to each other “this way, this way”. Yesterday was nothing special, but because of these birds, it was, d.g.
Yes, for me too on my morning walks- I look for the birds, which remind me of the Holy Spirit, I search for the trees which remind me of the wood of the cross, and I look at the sky which tells me we are all wrapped in the Father’s creation. These short walks at sunrise make me feel so alive and so grateful.
Such sights and thoughts make life worth living, no? 🕊🌳🔆
As you say SFG.. nothing is trivial. So much is revealed by our attitude and perception. What a beautiful way to look at the world! 🙏🌷🌈
I was struck by that single sentence; “Remember Lot’s wife.”
Keep your eyes on the Lord and don’t look back.
This message is repeated many times in the Gospels. We should take note.
Yes, “Remember Lot’s wife.”
Thank you Anthony…..wonderful advice you give: “we must keep our eyes on the Lord and don’t look back.”
You made me think of that wonderful Franciscan saint…..St. Junipero Serra ….who used to say: Siempre adelante……always forward……Always forward, never back!
We can start anew if we look to our Lord…….Jesus is Lord!
Thanks Jamie- another wise saint I never heard of. Always forward, so important.
Siempre adelante…..✅️
Me gusta esta forma de evangelizar, el arte nos lleva a reflexionar sobre un pasaje biblico. En este dia, sobre buscar lo importante, la vida del alma.
¡Nuestras almas siempre tienen hambre María!