Gospel in Art: Gaudete Sunday: Third Sunday of Advent

'The Eternal Pink, 10.57 carats set as a ring, flanked by trapezoid-shaped diamonds © Sotheby's NY, 8/06/23, lot 62

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 17 December 2023
John 1:6-8,19-28

A man came, sent by God.

His name was John. He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him.

He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light.

This is how John appeared as a witness. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, 'Who are you?' he not only declared, but he declared quite openly, 'I am not the Christ.' 'Well then,' they asked 'are you Elijah?' 'I am not' he said. 'Are you the Prophet?' He answered, 'No.' So they said to him, 'Who are you? We must take back an answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?' So John said, 'I am, as Isaiah prophesied:

a voice that cries in the wilderness:

Make a straight way for the Lord.'

Now these men had been sent by the Pharisees, and they put this further question to him, 'Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the prophet?' John replied, 'I baptise with water; but there stands among you - unknown to you - the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo his sandal-strap.' This happened at Bethany, on the far side of the Jordan, where John was baptising.

Reflection on the Pink Diamond

With shop windows around us and commercial online retailers saturating us with the Christmassy green and red colours, it is easy to lose sight of the true colours of the Advent season: purple and pink. Today, for those of you who can attend Mass or who watch the live-streamed Masses online, you will notice the priest wearing pink/rose-coloured vestments. Also, the pink candle is being lit on the Advent wreath as the third candle. In French the colour pink has more resonance, as it is called 'rose', like the flower's name and therefore conveys the sense of beauty, creation, nature and growing, ... all relevant for this Third Sunday of Advent. The term "Gaudete" is Latin for "rejoice," and it is the opening word of the entrance antiphon for the day, which is taken from Philippians 4:4-5: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near."

This rose colour is only used twice in the whole liturgical year: Gaudete Sunday in Advent and Laetare Sunday in Lent. The purpose is to bring a sense of joy amidst a season of penance. It is to remind us that during the dark, wintery nights of Advent, the light of Christ is coming soon; and in Lent as well, to remind us that the season of preparation is coming to a close and the great feast of the Resurrection is swiftly approaching.

One of the areas in art collection where pink is THE sought after colour is the world of diamonds. Pink diamonds are exceptionally rare, comprising only a tiny fraction of the world's diamond production. The scarcity of pink diamonds, especially those with intense and vivid hues, makes for very high prices. The pink diamond we are looking at sold last June for a staggering $34,804,500 USD.

I sometimes think of Scripture as this jewel-like treasure we have been entrusted with. Just like a diamond, it has many different facets and throughout our readings in the Lectionary over the years, we always see the same reality but highlighted from a different angel and facet. Like turning a bright jewel in the sunlight, we see how the facets reflect the light in different colours and refract that light differently… showing its full splendour: the full splendour of Scripture on display, from different angles, as hopefully we move closer and closer to the light.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-1-6-8-19-28-2023/