A Cousin's Kiss

Two cousins, both called to mission, embrace in a gesture of mutual compassion and love.

As they part they reach out to one another and John places a kiss on the cheek of the one he knows to be the Messiah. At the moment of his arrest Jesus will betrayed by a kiss, but here, as he begins his life and ministry on earth, his cousin's kiss confirms him as the Word made flesh.

Even as a little boy, John is portrayed clothed in the garments of a desert dweller. His simple camel hair tunic is tied with a leather belt and his staff bears the cross beam on which his beautiful cousin will eventually sacrifice himself for us.

The figure of Jesus, tenderly proffered by his mother Mary, appears to radiate light, the Light of the World, the light will which guide John as he sets out to cry in the wilderness with his call to repentance.

Jesus reaches out to offer John his grace and his love. Without it John's message and mission will be meaningless. Without the blessing of the babe of Bethlehem John's voice will simply be a gong booming, a cymbal clashing. But with it, John will be able to proclaim Jesus as the Lamb of God, the one who is to take away our sins.

As we once again begin the great season of Advent perhaps this wonderful image by Sandro Botticelli will inspire us to use the coming weeks wisely as we prepare for the coming of the Lord into our lives. We pray that Christ will be the only light we use to guide us on our journey. That John's call to turn back to God will so resonate in our hearts that we accept the forgiveness of God and the chance to start again. And that, as John embraces Jesus and acknowledges the Saviour's presence in his life, so we will embrace him and welcome him into our lives today and every day.

HAPPY ADVENT!