Gospel in Art: Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son

The Annunciation, by Joos van Cleve, 1525, oil on panel © Metropolitan Museum, New York

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 20 December 2024
Luke 1:26-38

At that time: The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!' But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.'

And Mary said to the angel, 'How will this be, since I am a virgin?' And the angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy - the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.' And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her.

Reflection on the painting

Throughout history, artists have depicted the Annunciation with extraordinary splendour, inviting us to immerse ourselves in the profound mystery and joy of this sacred event. Art has the unique ability to draw us into the scene, encouraging us to reflect on the significance of Mary saying 'Yes' to God. In today's Gospel reading, Mary responds to a divine call - the call to become the mother of God's Son. However, her acceptance was neither immediate nor without struggle.

Initially, the Gospel recounts that she was 'greatly troubled' by the message and questioned it, asking, 'How can this be?' Yet, in time, she chose to surrender fully to God's will, declaring, 'Let it be to me according to your word.' Mary joins a long tradition of biblical women who served God's purposes with faith and trust. Her willingness to say 'yes' had the most profound implication for all humanity. Through her generous response, God's Son took on human flesh, sharing in our humanity in every way except sin, and opening the way for us to follow him as our way, truth, and life.

Now of my favourite painting depicting the annunciation, is this panel by Joos Van Cleve, circa 1525. We see Gabriel and Mary depicted in a finely detailed, domestic Flemish interior. This domesticity emphasises the idea of Christ entering the ordinary world, and entering each of our homes. The small altarpiece and the woodcut on the wall feature depictions of Old Testament prophets. These symbolise the connection between the Old and New Testaments, presenting the annunciation as the fulfilment of Old Testament scripture. The open book in front of Mary represents Mary's personal devotion and readiness to help fulfil God's will as foretold in Scripture. The bed in the background symbolises Mary's perpetual chastity. A small, often overlooked detail, the vase in the scene is symbolic of Mary as the vessel of God. The white lilies refer to Mary's purity and her Immaculate Conception.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-1-26-38-2024-4/