Today's Gospel in Art - Solemnity of the Birth of St John the Baptist

Young John the Baptist, by William-Adolphe Bouguereau 1883 © Sotheby's New York, 10 November 1998, lot 151

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 24th June 2021 - Luke 1:57-66,80

The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son; and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had shown her so great a kindness, they shared her joy.

Now on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother spoke up. 'No,' she said 'he is to be called John.' They said to her, 'But no one in your family has that name', and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, 'His name is John.' And they were all astonished. At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God. All their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea. All those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. 'What will this child turn out to be?' they wondered. And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.

Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit matured. And he lived out in the wilderness until the day he appeared openly to Israel.

Reflection on the Painting

Today we celebrate the birth of St John the Baptist. It is a special day, as John the Baptist is the only saint whose birth we as a Church celebrate with a solemn feast. Feast days of all the other saints are normally based on the day of their death (if known). Of course, the only other person whose birth we celebrate is Jesus. Today, the 24th of June is exactly six months before the birth of Christ.

These dates are not insignificant. We celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December which is just a few days after Winter solstice… This is when the days are getting longer again, and with the birth of Jesus the days are getting longer again… He is the true light coming into the world. In sharp not un-coincidental contrast, the celebration of the birth of John the Baptist is celebrated around the Summer solstice. Today, the light of the of the sun starts to decrease… Therefore it is a perfect day to celebrate John, who said that 'Christ must increase, but I must decrease' (John 3:30).

Our painting by William Bouguereau, is a very sweet, tender portrait of Saint John as a child. Just a few brushstrokes paint a camel hair cloak. John gazes upwards… at the One to come. He shows plenty of resolve, aware of his own mission… paving the way for Christ's light to come into the world.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/847
Christian Art - www.christian.art