Gospel in Art: The birth of John the Baptist is announced by Gabriel

The Angel appears to Zacharias, fresco painting by Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1486 © Santa Maria Novella, Florence

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 19 December 2024
Luke 1:5-25

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the Temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.'

And Zechariah said to the angel, 'How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.' And the angel answered him, 'I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.' And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the Temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realised that he had seen a vision in the Temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 'Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.'

Reflection on the Fresco Painting

We are accustomed to hearing bad news. Most of what dominates our news programmes focuses on what is wrong with the world rather than what is right. Even when we do hear good news, we can sometimes approach it with scepticism, questioning its truth or searching for its downside. In today's Gospel, the angel Gabriel brought good news to Zechariah: his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son. Not just any son, but one who would be great in the sight of the Lord, filled with the Holy Spirit, and instrumental in leading many people of Israel back to God. Yet Zechariah struggled to believe this news-it seemed too good to be true. Doubting the angel's message, he asked, "How can I be sure of this?" Instead of rejoicing in the good news as he was invited to, his disbelief silenced him, leaving him unable to speak.

This story reminds us that failing to listen properly, or being highly sceptical, can negatively affect not only what we say but also how we say it. Good speaking always flows from attentive listening. Like Zechariah, we too can struggle to hear and embrace good news, particularly the good news of God's love for us through Jesus. We may think, 'this might be true for others', but surely not for me. Could God really send His Son for me? Yet the angel's words to the shepherds on the night of Jesus' birth echo through time: "Today, a Saviour has been born for you." That "you" includes each one of us. Our journey as Christians is one of learning to truly listen to this good news.

The fresco we are looking at today, painted by Domenico Ghirlandaio, is part of a magnificent series created for the Tornabuoni Chapel in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. The series illustrates key events from the life of John the Baptist, and in this particular scene, we witness the moment the elderly priest Zechariah receives his extraordinary message while performing his duties in the temple. Zechariah is in the middle of incensing the altar. To the left of the altar, the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah, delivering the startling news that he and his wife, Elizabeth, will have a son who must be named John. We can see Zechariah's disbelief. Failing to accept the divine announcement, Gabriel declares that he will be unable to speak until the child is born. When Zechariah leaves the temple, the prophecy is fulfilled-he is struck dumb, a visible sign of both his doubt and the power of God's word. Ghirlandaio's fresco captures the tension and awe of this pivotal moment, with its richly detailed setting and masterful depiction of the angel's arrival amidst the daily rhythms of temple life. It serves as a vivid reminder of the unexpected ways God works and how he appears in the midst of our daily lives too.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-1-5-25-2024/