Gospel in Art: Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

Jacob's Ladder by Nicolas Dipre, 1525 © Musée du Petit Palais, Paris

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 29 September 2022
John 1: 47-51

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, 'There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.' 'How do you know me?' said Nathanael. 'Before Philip came to call you,' said Jesus 'I saw you under the fig tree.' Nathanael answered, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.' Jesus replied, 'You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.' And then he added 'I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.'

Reflection on the painting

One of the primary roles of angels in Scripture is that of being messengers (the Greek work angelos means messenger). They function as God's messengers to people. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, whose feast we celebrate today, were unique in the history of salvation.

Angels bridge the gap between heaven and earth. In the Book of Genesis already, Jacob had a dream of a ladder connecting heaven and earth with 'angels ascending and descending' on it; the ladder was Jacob's vision of heaven and earth meeting. In our reading, John uses exactly these words of 'the angels of God ascending and descending'. But of course now beside the angels, Jesus is the one in whom heaven and earth meet. Each time we turn to Jesus, we turn to him in his human, earthly nature, but also in his divine, heavenly nature. He is the ladder that connects both and that is both.

Our painting today by Nicolas Dipre dating to around 1525, depicts Jacob lying by the side of the road, fast asleep. He is dreaming of a ladder that is connecting heaven and earth. Both Jacob and the angels are in white dress. The celestial clouds are white too. Everything is connected through the use of a single colour.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/

Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-1-47-51-2022/