Justin Appel

Dear Friends,

Today is the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Church's great countercultural saint who dedicated himself totally to proclaiming the coming of Jesus Christ.

Read the Gospel lessons assigned to this morning and evening here:

John 3:22-30

Matthew 11:2-19

These lessons illuminate both John's unique purpose, although neither includes his birth story.

To remind ourselves of this nativity narrative, we can look at artworks, such as the altarpiece and paintings in this short video production from the National Gallery in London. As 21st-century Christians, we have the great luxury of experiencing this great artwork, which was devoutly created to reiterate the great stories of our faith. Over a number of years, I have been blessed to walk through many museums and churches filled with such work, and I am constantly struck by the temporal depth of our faith. Since icons aren't a normal part of our tradition, I think it's important to delve into these pictorial representations of the biblical narratives. They can bring the stories home to us, while also reminding us of the connection we share with previous generations of Christians.

Yours in Christ,
Justin