Let the children come onto me,
Painting by Fritz von Uhde (1848-1911),
Painted in 1885,
Oil on canvas
© Museum der Bildenden Künste, Leipzig, Germany
Let the children come onto me,
Painting by Fritz von Uhde (1848-1911),
Painted in 1885,
Oil on canvas
© Museum der Bildenden Künste, Leipzig, Germany
Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me
Mark 9:30-37
Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; and he did not want anyone to know, because he was instructing his disciples; he was telling them, ‘The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him.
They came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ They said nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest. So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.’ He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’
Reflection on the painting
Arguments and disagreements are part of life. Each of us can see the same reality differently, always ready to argue in favour of our own point of view. A football match recounted by the supporter of one team will be presented very differently by a supporter of the opposite team. They all watched the same match, yet the accounts will be very different. Some of these arguments and disagreements can be healthy, provided that people are open to listening the other person’s point of view and be respectful.
Some issues however are simply not worth arguing over. We can find ourselves getting into unnecessary arguments that serve very little useful purpose. We can feel in today’s reading that Jesus thought that the argument the disciples were having was not one that was serving a good purpose. They were arguing about which of them should be considered the greatest. A pointless discussion. They were ambitious for their own little kingdom, rather than for the kingdom of God.
Jesus then, to make his point, took a little child and told them they should be like the child: innocent, weak, powerless, vulnerable, lacking in honour and prestige, humble, keen to learn… Our painting by Fritz von Uhde depicts Jesus being surrounded by children in a late-19th-century domestic setting. The artist is thus making clear that Jesus is timeless and present in each of our domestic settings… prompting us to have a child-like curiosity, joy and innocence.
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La escena tiene vida por el logro del hermano pintor Fritz y porque Jesús Dios Hecho Hombre Vive !! convocando a los niños incluidos los adultos si nos hacemos como ellos.
Germany, 1885. A turbulent, volatile, and violent period, domestically and across Europe. Tension between Bismarck and the Catholic Church. The painting is remarkably calming and peaceful in the midst of madness, fear, and confusion among children. Much like parts of our world in 2023. May I serve Jesus by providing a scared child hope today.
Ego is such a powerful force within each of us and very difficult to suppress. It seems to me that letting go of one’s ego is part of what Jesus is teaching his disciples and us in today’s reading.
Bellissima immagine di Gesù circondato dai bambini. Dovremmo ritornare a essere semplici , innocenti e fiduciosi come i bambini. Affidiamoci con amore a Gesù e alla sua Misericordia.🙏♥️ Buona giornata!
Hay 14 niños en esta pintura , y contemplarlos me provoca una gran alegría. Tenemos que ser como ellos para entrar en el reino de los Cielos. Confío en Ti Señor, pero aumenta mi confianza!
Another one in my favourites! I love everything about this picture, the way Jesus is painted takes it a step away from sentimentality for me. He looks like he could be a kindly school-teacher, except for the queuing parents at the door. The interior is authentic with lovely detail, and the light is coming in to settle on that little girl- she is about the age of my granddaughter here. Every day I pray the holy child cares for her, but today I will extend this to all neglected and vulnerable children. There are so many. ‘Lord we entrust all Your children to Your care today. We pray Your holy angels will watch over them, protecting them and keeping them safe from harm. In Your most Holy name…’
A very moving picture. The trust in the little blond girl’s face and stance is very well done. How terrible to abuse a child’s trust? Or an adult’s come to it.
My Jesus I trust in you!
Some years ago I attended to classes for moms with newborns, and the nurse was very emphatic as why parents should never hit a child, and she said: if you hit a child he’ll come towards you looking for protection, and you are the one hitting him!
That thought breaks my heart, thinking about all those who abuse their position ( inside the family, school and even in church) to disgrace the life of those most vulnerable.
Jesus recognizes the value of those little ones with purest souls, is a shame that we forget about it when we grow up.
I used to smack my children when they put themselves in danger- was that a form of protection? They laugh about it now because they said it never hurt but they got the message.
What a sweet picture. Thank you very much.