Gospel in Art: The voice crying in the wilderness: prepare!

Saint John the Baptist, by El Greco, painted 1597-1607 © Legion of Honor Museum, San Francisco

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 8 December 2024
Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." '

Reflection on the painting

With Christmas now just over two weeks away, many people living away from their families or even abroad, will soon embark on their journeys home. One of the most treasured traditions associated with Christmas is this effort to return home or to welcome others back. The phrase "home for Christmas" has become a heartfelt expression of the season, embodying the warmth and joy of reuniting with loved ones. For those who cannot return home, such as individuals in hospitals or care homes, special efforts are made to recreate the experience of home for them, ensuring that the love and spirit of the season reach everyone.

In today's reading, we hear the voice of John the Baptist crying out in the wilderness. He is called, and calls us, to come home-home to gather around our Christian family, where we will soon celebrate the arrival of Christ at the crib. Yet, before we reach that moment, we must continue on our Advent journey. These final two weeks invite us to prepare ourselves, step by step, to draw closer to the light of Christ, soon to enter our world.

El Greco's St John the Baptist is a striking and unconventional portrayal of the saint. St John is depicted as a thin, almost otherworldly figure dressed in animal skins, emphasising his ascetic lifestyle. He holds a long staff with a cross-shaped top, a symbol of his prophetic role in heralding Christ. Beside him, a smaller cross rests next to a lamb perched on a rock, representing the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God), a direct reference to Christ as the sacrificial saviour. The clouds circling St John's head form a subtle, ethereal halo, suggesting his divine purpose. Uniquely, El Greco includes the distant image of the Monastery of El Escorial, grounding the painting in the cultural context of 16th-century Spain. Forsaking the traditional Renaissance idealisation of St John as a figure of masculine beauty, El Greco instead elongates his form and paints him as an emaciated, almost haunting figure. This distortion underscores the saint's self-denial, sacrifice, and devotion to his mission.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-3-1-6-2024/