Today's Gospel in Art - Beheading of John the Baptist

The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, by Caravaggio, 1608, © St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta

Gospel of 29th August 2019 - Mark 6:17-29

Herod sent to have John arrested, and had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, 'It is against the law for you to have your brother's wife.' As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.

An opportunity came on Herod's birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, 'Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.' And he swore her an oath, 'I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.' She went out and said to her mother, 'What shall I ask for?' She replied, 'The head of John the Baptist.' The girl hurried straight back to the king and made her request, 'I want you to give me John the Baptist's head, here and now, on a dish.' The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John's head. The man went off and beheaded him in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John's disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Reflection on the Altar Painting

For a being a relatively small island, Malta holds two paintings by Caravaggio: one of of St Jerome in his study, and the other is the painting we are looking at today The Beheading of St John the Baptist. The painting was commissioned by the Order of Malta in 1608 to be part of the altarpiece (the largest Caravagio would even paint) in St John's Co-Cathedral in Valetta. The painting depicts the moment after which John has already been struck by the executioner's sword, and now he has drawn a knife from his belt to finish the job. A rather cruel scene, but yet there is a great serenity, seen all the empty space that surrounds the central scene. Saint John isn't in a kneeling position as is customary in most other artworks depicting this scene, but he is on the ground, his body in a similar pose of that of a sacrificial lamb, his hands tied behind his back. Salome stands ready with a golden platter to receive his head...... To read on see: www.christianart.today/daily-gospel-reading/157