Second Sunday of Advent: "Saint John the Baptist Preaching"

by Fr. Larry Fraher  |  12/07/2023  |  Images of Faith

On this Second Sunday of Advent, Cycle B, we begin consecutive Sundays focused on the preaching of John the Baptist. Luca Giordano’s late 17th Century painting, Saint John the Baptist Preaching (oil on copper, ca. 1695, Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art), may help us with some visual cues to understand our call in this initial Advent encounter with John.

The image depicts John the Baptist traditionally, with the camel-hair garb, and the thin staff with a cross at the top, a common symbol associated with him, along with the red drape of the martyr. His halo, marking his holiness and the fact that he is the central figure in the image, offers a less traditional glow about his head and shoulders rather than the normal disc or circle above the head.

Gathered around him are individuals clad in the clothing of the time and culture of the artist, depicting people from several walks of life; mothers with small children, workers seemingly entertained by the words of the Baptist, such as the man center-right staring up, mouth open, at the Baptist, and travelers from the east wearing turbans. Someone has even brought their dog to hear John’s preaching. The lone exception, dressed in biblical garb, is the young woman in a royal blue and separated from the group, positioned in the lower-right corner. This is likely a depiction of Salome, the daughter of Herodias, who asks for the Baptist’s head on a platter. There is another aspect of the image that draws our attention. Two of the people gathered with John, the man in the golden drape and sitting on the horse, and the boy in red, have their attention drawn away from him toward an unseen other. In the background, we also see a second group of people who are gazing past the figure of John the Baptist, and toward the unseen speaker.

The presence of this unknown speaker is essential to understanding the character of John the Baptist, both in the Scriptures and in this painting. Giordano purposefully exaggerates the halo around John, in order to create both an aura of his holiness and the potential of a figure who exudes light, Christ, being implied behind the larger image of John in the foreground. Those whose gazes are directed toward this light have discovered the One of whom John speaks when he says, “One mightier than I is coming after me.” (Mk 1:7)

The image offers a challenge in this Advent season, questioning us about our focus. Are we enthralled with the preparation, excitement, and things to do in the midst of the anticipation of Christ’s coming, similar to the man at John’s feet, ignoring the reality of Christ’s presence among us? Or, are we like those who notice what isn’t necessarily obvious, that which is hidden or disguised, instead of becoming attracted to the spectacular presentations, the busy-ness of the time, and the needs of preparation for the Holiday. The image presents the temptation to mistake the preparer for the one to come. Advent is a time of preparation, it is not the Christmas Season. Let us be careful not to mistake the preparation for that which is to come.