Matthew 9:9-13

In our Gospel reading today, we read about Jesus having a celebratory meal, possibly in the house of Matthew the tax collector who had just responded to Jesus’ unexpected call to become one of his close followers. Present at this meal were people like Matthew, tax collectors and some disciples. What were they celebrating? They were celebrating God’s forgiveness and God’s mercy, calling everyone to follow him. They were all celebrating the amazing news that they all belonged among God’s family.

Just as we would do nowadays, they celebrated a special event by gathering friends around a table. Dining together is sharing intimacy. Dining together creates a bond.

Our painting is by Paul Signac, circa 1886. Signac wanted to become a writer at first but decided to take up painting after seeing Claude Monet’s first impressionist paintings. He was entirely self taught. In 1884 Signac and Georges Seurat did research into colour and the effects of colour contrasts. They developed a new style of painting that later became known as pointillism. The technique consisted of mixing primary colours with white only and applying these directly – in small dots – onto the canvas. The colours merge together in the eye of the observer only when seen from a distance. In our painting entitled The Dining Room, Signac used mainly blue-yellow and orange-green as contrasting and complementary colours. The figures (his mother, grandfather and the housemaid) are shown frontally or in profile and are standing or sitting motionless, without showing any expression. They have not been portrayed, but are painted as types, as examples of a timeless bourgeoisie.

Happy Feast of Saint Matthew!