Wednesday, 30 June 2010

Tough Times

It's not easy being a herald! It's tiring, often lonely, can take you to some really desperate places–physically, mentally and spiritually–and when things don't go so well it can be really depressing.

All of which must have been true for John the Baptist, depicted here in the wilderness by Geertens tot Sint Jans, painted around 1490.

Ok, he was the 'greatest born of woman', but he was still like you and me. Let's face it, a diet of locusts and honey doesn't exactly sound like it's going to nourish the body, mind or the soul particularly well. Five a day?!

In this tender portrait we see another side to the Baptist. It shows him sitting quietly in the valley of the Jordan, having a moment to himself. This man is not depressed, he is meditating (the painting is referred to as the meditation of J the B). He rests his head in his hand, not through desperation, but rather in a gesture of contemplation. Joseph, the husband of Mary, is often depicted in a similar pose, although asleep, when he is communicating with God through the angel. Here John takes time out to communicate with God about the dangerous and lonely mission of preparing a way for the Lord. He shuffles his bare feet, a sign of a troubled mind. I think it's a gesture of humility, of not being sure, but nevertheless journeying on. His camel hair coat, a wonderfully rich chocolate brown, is covered by a cloak of the most exquisite blue. The colour of royalty indicates his position in the hierarchy of sainthood, but also that he is enfolded in the majesty, not of himself, but rather of the Lord of Lord's.

And what of the wilderness? It doesn't look very wild, rather more like the English park landscapes of Capability Brown. Where the Baptist's feet rest is the dry bed of a river which, when the Saviour comes, will be flooded with the love and mercy of God. The birds of the air accompany him. The magpie, a symbol of sorrow is present and the lamb, the Agnus Dei rests behind him. This mission is not about John, but Jesus.

In the end perhaps he is simply waiting. His job of proclamation and preparation complete he sits and patiently awaits the arrival of the Lamb of God, the Beloved who will be baptised and change the world for ever. In our 'go and get it' world the biblical notion of pondering is something which is often overlooked or misunderstood.

Let's pray that when our work is done, or even when we are half way through, we will take the time to sit in the Lord's presence and await his coming. And let's pray for those who preach the Gospel and prepare a way for the Lord, that they may be comforted, encouraged and consoled by the inspiration of John the Baptist.

Wednesday, 16 June 2010

A Surprise Visitor

In this charming painting by the chinese Christian artist He Qi we are given a glimpse of the challenge of bringing the message of God to his people. In the health and safety manual for angels there is obviously no section entitled 'Windows and Blinds – FAQs'!

We see the archangel Gabriel at the window, determined (and it has to be said, somewhat bemused) to deliver God's message of peace and goodwill to Mary. The lily, the traditional image of purity and virginity is proffered delicately, the little finger crooked. Gabriel is a well mannered messenger! The flower survives the ordeal of entry in one beautiful piece and stands, centre stage, to remind us that this is an announcement of no ordinary birth.

Mary is at her toilet, combing through the tresses of her rich red hair. Depicting red hair was often used by artists to denote difference, especially in women, although there are some paintings where Judas has red hair. Mary is not like other girls, she already stands out simply by how she looks. God will confirm her uniqueness by making her the mother of his Son, but she was chosen long before. She was, is, and always will be, different.

And yet she is the same. She goes about her ordinary business. Seated at her dressing table near the window (to maximise the light) she attends to her appearance like countless millions of young women have done in the past and will do in the future. Whilst this is a contemporary interpretation of the Annunciation, it is at the same time, timeless. It could be yesterday, today or tomorrow. I love it for that.

So what can account for the pinkness of Mary's cheeks. Is it embarrassment or the over eager application of rouge? Perhaps it's both. If it's embarrassment, then perhaps we understand a little more of the modesty of Mary, her unwillingness to push herself forward. If it's the rouge, perhaps we could interpret that as a sign of her inner strength, the strength which enables her to offer her 'fiat', her 'yes' to God. She is in no way brash, but she's also not a wimp.

All in all it's wonderful. It's colour draws us in to the joy of the moment. It's directness helps us to engage with the simplicity, and, at the same time, the momentous nature of the event.

And if we hear ourselves saying 'It didn't look like that!', let's also asks ourselves 'how do I know what it looked like?'

Ultimately this is an image for our reflection and meditation. God will bring his message to the world regardless of the obstacles in his way. We can receive the call when we least expect it. Let us simply pray that we will have the courage and the strength, like Mary, to say 'yes'.