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  • Matthew's Gospel Reflections 2020
  1. Home
  2. Matthew's Gospel Reflections 2020

Matthew's Gospel Reflections 2020

We invite you to reflect on St Matthews Gospel with a weekly meditation by Fr Dries van den Akker SJ on the unique paintings of Catholic artist Peter Clare. 2019/2020.

A selection of Peter Clare's paintings of St Matthew's Gospel, photographed by Con McHugh:

Matthews Gospel Paintings by Peter Clare

About the Artist: Peter Clare - religious artist based in Bucknell, Shropshire


Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War Peter Clare moved with his family to Sheffield.

There at the age of seven he decided that he would be an artist and while the better part of his working life was taken up with teaching mathematics, a subject that he has always enjoyed and which, with his interest in geometry, has influenced his ideas of composition, he has always regarded art as his first love and proper calling.

Teaching children and adults from the widest range of economic and ethnic background in schools and colleges and living and working in big cities, small towns up and down the UK and finally settling in the rural area of Shropshire in the Welsh Marches has provided the artist with a rich variety of inspiration.

Peter taught at Blessed Humphrey Middlemore Catholic Comprehensive in Harborne, Birmingham and later at Matthew Boulton College, Birmingham then retired to paint in 1992.

Peter's current work - 'St Matthew' cycle of paintings - is with the Jesuit community in Harborne and 'The Journey' cycle is with the Westhill Endowment Trust in Birmingham.

For more information visit PeterClare.co.uk

About Fr Dries:

Fr Dries van den Akker SJ is a member of the formation team of the International Novitiate at Manresa House, Harborne, Birmingham.

He taught RE for many years in the beautiful city of Delft.

He is an expert on the Saints land on the history of Western Christian Art and he is a fine bible scholar who has just completed a new commentary on Mark’s Gospel to be published next year.

For the year of The God Who Speaks Fr Dries is providing a meditation for each Sunday’s Gospel, paralleling the Gospel text with one of a sequence of paintings by the contemporary Catholic Artist Peter Clare.

The luminous depth of Peter’s paintings and the perceptive question Fr Dries brings to them provide an ideal way to engage with, and open ourselves to, the Word of God.

Weekly meditations by Fr Dries van den Akker s.j. on the paintings of St Matthew's Gospel by Peter Clare:

Picture Meditation: Sunday 22 November

Picture Meditation: Sunday 22 November

34th and Last Sunday Ecclesiastical Year A: Christ King Read more

Published: 20th November, 2020

Updated: 27th November, 2020

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 15 November

Picture Meditation: Sunday 15 November

Year A 33rd Sunday: Matthew 25:14-30, The Talents Read more

Published: 12th November, 2020

Updated: 20th November, 2020

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 8 November

Picture Meditation: Sunday 8 November

Year A 32nd Sunday: Matthew 25:1-13, 'Then the kingdom of Heaven will be like this' Read more

Published: 6th November, 2020

Updated: 12th November, 2020

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 1 November

Picture Meditation: Sunday 1 November

The Eight Beatitudes - Matthew 5: 3 - 10 Read more

Published: 30th October, 2020

Updated: 6th November, 2020

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 25 October

Picture Meditation: Sunday 25 October

Year A 30th Sunday: Matthew 22:34-40 Read more

Published: 23rd October, 2020

Updated: 6th November, 2020

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture meditation: 18 October

Picture meditation: 18 October

Fr Dries reflects on Matthew 22:15-22 22:15   Then the Pharisees went away to work out between them how to trap him in what he said. Read more

Published: 16th October, 2020

Updated: 23rd October, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture meditation: 11 October

Picture meditation: 11 October

Fr Dries reflects on Matthew 22:01-14 22:01   Jesus began to speak to them in parables once again, 22:02   'The kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son's wedding. Read more

Published: 9th October, 2020

Updated: 23rd October, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture meditation: Sunday 4 October

Picture meditation: Sunday 4 October

Fr Dries reflects on Matthew 21:33-43 21:42   Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this is the Lord's doing and we marvel at it? 21:43   'I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.' Read more

Published: 2nd October, 2020

Updated: 19th January, 2021

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture meditation: 27 September

Picture meditation: 27 September

Fr Dries reflects on Matthew 21:28-32 21:28   'What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He went and said to the first, "My boy, go and work in the vineyard today. 21:29   He answered, "I will not go," but afterwards thought better of it and went. Read more

Published: 25th September, 2020

Updated: 2nd October, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture meditation: 20 September

Picture meditation: 20 September

Fr Dries reflects on Matthew 20:1-16 .  'Now the kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard.' Read more

Published: 18th September, 2020

Updated: 2nd October, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation. Matthew 18:21-35

Picture Meditation. Matthew 18:21-35

18:21   Then Peter went up to him and said, 'Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?' 18:22   Jesus answered, 'Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times. Read more

Published: 11th September, 2020

Updated: 19th January, 2021

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture meditation:  Matthew 18:15-20

Picture meditation: Matthew 18:15-20

18:15   'If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. Read more

Published: 4th September, 2020

Updated: 11th September, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture reflection 30 August: Matthew 16:21-27

Picture reflection 30 August: Matthew 16:21-27

16:21   From then onwards Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Read more

Published: 27th August, 2020

Updated: 4th September, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation: Year A 21st Sunday: Matthew 16:13-20

Picture Meditation: Year A 21st Sunday: Matthew 16:13-20

16:13   When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of man is?' Read more

Published: 21st August, 2020

Updated: 28th August, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation. Assumption of Our Lady: Luke 1:39-56

Picture Meditation. Assumption of Our Lady: Luke 1:39-56

1:39     Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah. 1:40     She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. 1:41     Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Read more

Published: 14th August, 2020

Updated: 28th August, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation: Matthew 14:22-33

Picture Meditation: Matthew 14:22-33

Year A 19th Sunday: Matthew 14:22-33 14:25   In the fourth watch of the night he came towards them, walking on the sea, 14:26   and when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. 'It is a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear. 14:27   But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, 'Courage! It's me! Don't be afraid.' Read more

Published: 7th August, 2020

Updated: 19th January, 2021

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation:  Matthew 14,13-22

Picture Meditation: Matthew 14,13-22

Year A 18th Sunday:  Matthew 14,13-22 14,13:  When Jesus received this news [the violent death of John the Baptist] he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the crowds heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. Read more

Published: 31st July, 2020

Updated: 14th August, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture meditation, Matthew 13:44-52

Picture meditation, Matthew 13:44-52

Year A 17th Sunday: Matthew 13:44-52 13:44   'The kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off in his joy, sells everything he owns and buys the field. Read more

Published: 24th July, 2020

Updated: 28th August, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation: Sunday 19 July

Picture Meditation: Sunday 19 July

Matthew 13:24-43. The picture of today is an illustration of Jesus’ parable about the good seed and the bad darnel. Read more

Published: 17th July, 2020

Updated: 4th September, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation: Sunday 12 July

Picture Meditation: Sunday 12 July

Year A 15th Sunday: Matthew:13:1-23 The picture is an illustration of the parable of the seed and its explanation. Read more

Published: 10th July, 2020

Updated: 17th July, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation: Sunday 5 July 2020

Picture Meditation: Sunday 5 July 2020

'When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.' Read more

Published: 3rd July, 2020

Updated: 10th July, 2020

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 28 June 2020

Picture Meditation: Sunday 28 June 2020

‘So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of human beings, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven.' Read more

Published: 26th June, 2020

Updated: 17th July, 2020

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Year A, 12th Sunday, 21st June

Picture Meditation: Year A, 12th Sunday, 21st June

Matthew 10:26-27 10:26   'So do not be afraid of them. Everything now covered up will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. 10:27   What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.’ Read more

Published: 19th June, 2020

Updated: 17th July, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation Corpus Christi: 14 June

Picture Meditation Corpus Christi: 14 June

Matthew 26:6-13 26:10   But Jesus noticed this and said, 'Why are you upsetting the woman? What she has done for me is indeed a good work! 26:11   You have the poor with you always, but you will not always have me. Read more

Published: 12th June, 2020

Updated: 19th June, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday (7 June)

Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday (7 June)

11:27 Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Read more

Published: 5th June, 2020

Updated: 17th July, 2020

Author: Faye Fawcett

Pentecost: Sunday 31 May

Pentecost: Sunday 31 May

The famous story of the descent of the Holy Spirit from heaven in the shape of wind and fire is told by Luke in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. We don’t find it in Matthew’s Gospel. Read more

Published: 29th May, 2020

Updated: 5th June, 2020

Author: Faye Fawcett

7th Sunday of Easter: Sunday 24 May

7th Sunday of Easter: Sunday 24 May

Matthew 28,16-20 - 'And look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time'. Read more

Published: 22nd May, 2020

Updated: 29th May, 2020

Author: Faye Fawcett

Sixth Sunday of Easter, 17 May. Matthew 07:12

Sixth Sunday of Easter, 17 May. Matthew 07:12

7:12     'So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the Law and the Prophets. Read more

Published: 15th May, 2020

Updated: 22nd May, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Fifth Sunday of Easter, 10 May. Matthew 10:24-25

Fifth Sunday of Easter, 10 May. Matthew 10:24-25

10:24 'Disciple is not superior to teacher, nor slave to master. 10:25 It is enough for disciple to grow to be like teacher, and slave like master...’ Read more

Published: 8th May, 2020

Updated: 12th May, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

Fourth Sunday of Easter: 3 May. Matthew 9:35-37

Fourth Sunday of Easter: 3 May. Matthew 9:35-37

This Sunday the Story of the Good Shepherd according to John is read. The painting of Matthew 9:35-37 might be a suitable replacement. The artist pictures Jesus with the cross of a shepherd. Read more

Published: 2nd May, 2020

Updated: 29th May, 2020

Author: Caroline Bletso

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