Gospel in Art: Behold, the Lamb of God

The Defenders of the Eucharist, by Rubens, 1625 © The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 18 January 2026
John 1:29-34

At that time: John saw Jesus coming towards him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, "After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me." I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptising with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.' And John bore witness: 'I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptise with water said to me, "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptises with the Holy Spirit." And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.'

Reflection on the painting

We know well the words that open today's Gospel: "Behold the Lamb of God." We hear them at every Mass as the priest lifts up the host before Holy Communion. In that moment, our attention is drawn away from ourselves and fixed entirely on Jesus, the One who gives himself to us as the Bread of Life. John the Baptist's whole mission was to point away from himself and towards Christ. The Mass does the same: it draws our gaze entirely to the Lord who comes to us in the holy Eucharist.

I have always found it striking how quickly everything happens after we receive Holy Communion. We are given the very Body of Christ and then, almost immediately, the priest offers a brief prayer, a final blessing, and we are sent out the doors. There is hardly any pause between the gift of the sacred host we receive and the mission we are given. The Church wastes no time because Christ does not want to remain only on our tongues... he wants to be carried into the streets, workplaces, hospitals, schools, into every corner of the world. Mass ends, and we are sent on mission to proclaim. We leave the altar like living tabernacles, Christ burning inside us, called to set hearts alight with the love we have just consumed. Communion is not just for us, it is fuel for the world.

The Defenders of the Eucharist, painted circa 1625, by Peter Paul Rubens is a powerful Baroque celebration of Catholic faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the holy Eucharist. It was painted during a time of intense religious conflict in Europe, a Catholic response to Protestantism that was sweeping through Europe. Rubens paints a group of towering saints closely associated with Eucharistic devotion and doctrine - including early Church Fathers such as Saint Jerome and Saint Ambrose, medieval theologians like Saint Thomas Aquinas, and great saints like Saint Clare of Assisi, presenting them as a unified spiritual force guarding the Blessed Sacrament. The saints are shown surrounding a magnificent monstrance, their gestures leading the viewer's eyes toward the consecrated Host at the centre, the very heart of Catholic worship. The Holy Spirit as a dove is hovering above, whilst angels are holding floral and fruiting garlands. The bottom edge shows books of Scripture, the place where it all starts.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-1-29-34-2026-2/