Resources For Parents (FiF)

In the Gospels, the path Jesus walks is also the path He sets before His disciples. Just as He had to summon all His strength to follow the will of the Father, those who would follow Him must share in that same determination. Discipleship cannot be postponed indefinitely. The invitation to follow is always in the present tense—now is the time to say yes! Too easily, we fall into the temptation of delay: “I’ll pray more when life is less busy… I’ll serve others when my situation is easier... etc...” But Jesus does not let us off so lightly. His call is urgent because the kingdom of God is urgent. To follow Christ means to take that step today, with courage and conviction, not waiting for a tomorrow that may never come.

The Apostles understood this urgency. When James and John were called by Jesus, they left their nets and joined Jesus - there and then, immediately. In our painting by Victorian artist Edward A. Armitage , we see Jesus standing on a rocky shoreline bathed in soft light, addressing James and John who are in their boat. The landscape reflects the great adventure that is awaiting them.

You will see that the font of the boat carries a 4 letter inscription but we do not know what it stands for.

This story highlights the importance of listening, speaking, and doing. Jesus speaks of those who ‘listen to these words of mine,’ those who call out, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and those who act on his teachings. While listening and speaking are significant aspects of our faith, Jesus makes it clear that without action, they hold little value. Faith must be lived out in practice, not merely expressed in words or thought.

A painting which shows faith in action, is Van Gogh's Good Samaritan. Following another serious breakdown in 1890, Vincent van Gogh turned to his canvas as a form of solace. He had a black and white engraving of The Good Samaritan by Eugène Delacroix. Van Gogh’s approach was far from a mere imitation of that engraving. He reimagined the scene with his characteristic bold brushstrokes, vibrant colours, and raw emotion, transforming the black and white print into a vivid result. Vincent captures the essence of faith in action, portraying the Samaritan as he actively lifts the injured man onto his donkey, a moment brimming with physical effort and compassionate urgency.

In this painting, the injured man needed time and care to recover, a journey of healing that mirrors Van Gogh’s own struggles to mend his fractured spirit. With The Good Samaritan, Van Gogh may also be alluding to his brother Theo, his steadfast supporter and personal Samaritan, who was always there to lift him up in his darkest moments.

Above the Chair of St Peter in St Peter’s Bascilica in Rome are sculpted clouds and rays of light that are emanating from a central pane of stained glass window. In this pane is   a dove holding an olive branch, a common representation of the Holy Spirit in the Christian tradition. With exterior light illuminating the pane, as well as the general glow of the gilded bronze, the entire sculpture radiates a heavenly aura, which is surely meant to enrapture and inspire the viewer.

This artwork is a book illustration executed by Harold Copping who in the late 19th/early 20th century made these illustrations of biblical scenes. His book, The Copping Bible, illustrated by himself became a best-seller in 1910. From the earliest versions of handwritten bibles, to 20th century printed bibles, illustrations have always played a key role. A good illustration can make a difference and place the reader right into the scene of the events that took place in the bible. Illustrations help to capture the attention of the reader; illustrations can help us to see the immediate relevance of the passages for our own lives; illustrations can inspire, motivate, explain, clarify, connect, etc… So they are more than just ‘nice pictures’ to break up pages of text… They matter!…

It would be easy to say that these biblical illustrations are just relevant for children, but they are certainly as important for adults. We are visual people by nature, and we live in a very visual age, more so than ever. These biblical illustrations can create ‘mental pictures’ which connect to our own reality and engage the emotional aspect of our human nature. Good illustrations stir the heart, they can move us… therefore making us connect even more to what is being said in the scriptures.

In this story we see Jesus heal the paralytic man, a man of great faith and persistent faith. He really wanted to get up close to Jesus and when meeting Him, Jesus did two things: first forgive his sins and then heal him… in order to be healed, we first have to be forgiven. The paralytic man understood this and that is why he desperately wanted to get close to Jesus, being lowered down the roof. What amazing faith he had… and what a beautiful biblical illustration to help us memorise this story even more…