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To Whom or to What Does Your Life Point?
At mass one Saturday Evening during his sermon, Fr. Marsh talked about a painting of John the Baptist. He said that in the painting, John’s index finger was depicted in slightly longer proportions than a normal finger. This stylized finger represents the significance of John’s pointing to Christ.
Within the quietness of the anchorage, I decided to see if I could locate a painting with this representation of St. John. When I look at fine art, I remember our Sister in Christ, Sr. Wendy, a great art historian with a wry sense of humor, who made art so accessible. She surely could have pointed me to the most superb painting of John the Baptist. Without her assistance however, I did find a painting that I really liked.
The picture in this post is one painted by Matthias Grünewald ( 1480 – 1528). The Latin text in the background is from the Gospel of John 3:30: “Illum oportet crescere, me autem minui”. This means: “He must increase, but I must decrease”.
In John’s ministry, he was frequently asked, “Are you the One?”. John repeatedly said that He was not the Christ. But that his joy was in hearing Christ’s voice.
I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3: 28-30.
John the Baptist points to Jesus and declares that Christ must take the forefront in life as he happily fulfills his role as the friend of the bridegroom. This really makes me think about where my life points. Does it point to consumerism, despair, brokenness? Or does it point to the promise of restoration, to hope of the world, Jesus Christ? This might be a good question to reflect on during bedtime prayers. To whom or to what did my life point today?
Prayer: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, guide me with your Holy Spirit so that I may, with St. John the Baptist, always point others to you. AMEN.
And now, here is a wonderful Advent Hymn in honor of St. John the Baptist: On Jordan’s Bank.
+The Anglican Anchoress