Saint John the Baptist,
Painting by Pierre Mignard (1612-1695),
Painted in 1688,
Oil on canvas
© Prado Museum, Madrid
Saint John the Baptist,
Painting by Pierre Mignard (1612-1695),
Painted in 1688,
Oil on canvas
© Prado Museum, Madrid
Look: there is the Lamb of God
John 1:29-34
Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me. I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water.’ John also declared, ‘I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him. I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit.” Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.’
Reflection on the painting
Our painting by Pierre Mignard depicts a young John the Baptist. He wears a red lined animal skin and sits on a rock from which water flows. A grazing lamb is beside him. In his right hand he holds a staff with the banner reading the Latin words of our Gospel reading “Ecce Agnus Dei” ('Look: there is the Lamb of God'). Mignard is primarily known for being an accomplished portraitist. And we can tell that the face of John is of higher quality than the rest of the painting. Also the texture of the lamb’s wool and the cloak are well rendered and detailed.
Our Gospel reading portrays John the Baptist as pointing away from himself towards Jesus. Even though John was clearly a very impressive figure, with people flocking to him from all over and submitting to his rite of baptism of repentance, John did not take any credit. The minute he saw Jesus walk towards him, he saw his role as directing people away from himself towards Jesus. His sense of duty and mission went so far that he even directed his own disciples to Jesus, encouraging them to become disciples of Jesus instead. What powerful humility John had.
Even though we are surrounded by a culture that tells us ‘look at me’ and ‘look at what I’ve achieved’, today's reading can be a call for us to hear John’s words and always point towards Jesus whenever we can.
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Ese rostro de SJB tan distinto al suyo convencional es, me parece, coincidente con la mansedumbre y humildad del Corazón de Jesús a Quién Juan le preparó el camino.
Our priest gave an amazing homily today: it was all about The Lamb saying that John’s listeners would straight away have made connections with the Passover Lamb. Remember that unlike temple offerings, the Passover Lamb was actually eaten…just as we consume His Body at Mass, echoing John’s words “Behold, The Lamb of God” Of course, Jesus died precisely at Passover. That has given me so much to think about.
Let’s hear it for the Baptist 😁 I am a big fan – he told us so much about Christ being the Son of God. He saw that dove.
Actually, my favourite depiction of him in art is in the Wilton Diptych…
Yes! I used to have a copy of the Wilton Diptych on my wall! I never unpacked it after I moved home- which was five years ago. Maybe I should start digging out my old pictures and putting them up?
John is often portrayed as rather forbidding figure, in his animal skin and with wild hair and total commitment to his mission. Apart from being in utero during the visitation, it is all we see of him in the Gospel. I think that is why I really like this painting, although slightly sentimental the face draws you in, in a way John himself would not have wanted as an adult. Yet we have to see John who like Mary. draws us to Jesus.
It is hard to know how my life draws other to Jesus, so that is an aspect I have to work on.
At a funeral recently it was remarked on by on old family friend that myself and my siblings have ‘kept the faith.’ I don’t know if it was a compliment or not! It is something I have thought about a lot in the days since…
It is so true when you point out our nowadays culture with the lack of humility.
When the whole social network boom began I opened an account, soon enough I closed it. I felt bad, I felt sad and ashamed, I compared myself with others, people I know posting big achievements, their own big house, their brand new car, model like bodies, and it made me feel little for not having all that.
It is not others fault that I feel like that about their postings, but I realized I have a lot to be thankful for and, when you don’t have anything else worthy to show you show the material stuff.
Thank you Father Patrick, God is giving you his grace and wisdom to become a great Priest and touch a lot of lives.
Happy Sunday!