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Appearance of Jesus while the Apostles are at Table,
Painted by Duccio di Buoninsegna (1255-1319),
Tempera on wood,
Painted in 1308
© Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena |
Having risen in the morning on the first day of the week, Jesus appeared first to Mary of Magdala from whom he had cast out seven devils. She then went to those who had been his companions, and who were mourning and in tears, and told them. But they did not believe her when they heard her say that he was alive and that she had seen him.
After this, he showed himself under another form to two of them as they were on their way into the country. These went back and told the others, who did not believe them either.
Lastly, he showed himself to the Eleven themselves while they were at table. He reproached them for their incredulity and obstinacy, because they had refused to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. And he said to them, ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation.’ |
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| | Reflection on the Painted Panel
Faith in the risen Christ came very slowly to most disciples. Three times we hear in the Gospel reading of today that Jesus’ witnesses were ‘not believed’. The lack of faith that the disciples displayed was a great frustration to Jesus. To be fair on the apostles, Jesus’ death must have seemed so final to them. They must have felt immensely grief-stricken and orphaned. Even though Jesus expresses frustration at their disbelief, He works with their hesitations and calls them to go forth to proclaim the good news. In a way, I always find it comforting to read that the Apostles themselves, the very people who spent years by Jesus’ side, had moments of disbelief and doubt. Jesus never gave up on them, nor on us.
In our painted panel by Duccio, executed in 1308, we see Christ appearing to the eleven disciples as per today’s Gospel reading. Bread, wine, honeycombs and fish adorn the table. Jesus’ hands are pierced. His left hand shows the frustration he has towards his disciples and His right hand prompts them to stand up to go out and preach the gospel to the world. Jesus’ cloak is the only gold highlighted garment. Faith in the risen Christ came slowly to some if not all of the apostles, but Christ worked with them and through them, just as He does with us.
by Patrick van der Vorst
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