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Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill,
Painted by Pieter Claesz (1596–1660),
Oil on wood panel,
Painted in 1628,
© The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.
‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.
‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’ |
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| We invite you to listen to this Podcast
Dear Friends,
Rather than writing about a specific artwork today, I invite you on this first day of Lent, to listen to a podcast I did two weeks ago for the Art of Dying Well, a website offering practical and spiritual support to those faced with the prospect of dying. You can listen to the Podcast by clicking here: https://soundcloud.com/artofdyingwell/episode-17-were-all-going-to-die
I was interviewed about Memento Mori art. This type of art not only serves to emphasise the fleetingness of earthly pleasures, but it also invites us to focus our thoughts on the prospect of the afterlife, prompting us to live good lives right now.
To access the Art of Dying Well website itself, please visit www.artofdyingwell.org
With all my warm wishes on this Ash Wednesday. May Lent this year illuminate your life with peace and love,
Patrick
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