Gospel in Art: Feast of the Holy Family

The Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth, Saint John, and a Dove, by Peter Paul Rubens, 1608-9, © Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 29 December 2024
Luke 2:41-52

The parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.

His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.

After three days they found him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, 'Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.' And he said to them, 'Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?'

And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and man.

Reflection on the painting

The age of twelve is an important milestone in a young person's life. It often marks the transition from primary to secondary school and is also the time when many receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. This sacrament allows them to affirm for themselves the promises made on their behalf at baptism, a choice originally made by their parents. During these years, young people begin to develop their own sense of identity, which can naturally lead to some tension with their parents. As they grow, they are less likely to simply comply with their parents' wishes, as they seek to establish their independence and individuality. Jesus in today's gospel reading is twelve years old.

We hear how his parents took him every year on the long journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, introducing him to the traditions of their Jewish faith. Like many parents today, they were nurturing his spiritual life, introducing Jesus to the synagogue on the Sabbath. Parents today do much the same, bringing their children to mass on Sundays. Doing so, introduces them to the visible expressions of faith in their parish church, such as stained glass windows, the stations of the cross, paintings, shrines, side chapels.... These tangible images often speak to children more powerfully than words. The family is rightly called the domestic church, as it provides a child's first experience of faith. Yet this domestic church also benefits from connecting to the wider parish community. Bringing children to church, even outside of public liturgies, helps them discover that they belong to the larger family of God's people.

Pieter Paul Rubens' The Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth, Saint John, and a Dove is a great example of theatrical Baroque art that captures a tender yet highly dynamic moment of familial intimacy infused with spiritual symbolism. The painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, who reaches toward a dove, a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The motif of the roughly handled dove is found in several contemporary Italian works which influenced Rubens and refers to Christ's ultimate sacrifice. Beside them are Saint Joseph, who gazes protectively, and Saint Elizabeth, whose presence as an elder relative ties the scene to the broader narrative of salvation. At the centre is the young Saint John the Baptist, identifiable by his rustic attire and the lamb, prefiguring his role as the forerunner of Christ. Rubens' composition brims with movement and vitality. It is a beautiful family portrait, yet with a profound theological dimension.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-2-41-52-2024/