N A T I V I T Y
S T . F R A N C I S W A S D E V O T E D T O C H R I S T M A S
Giotto painted this fresco in 1320 at the Basilica of
St. Francis of Assisi. The Nativity scene is a departure
from the Medieval obsession with painting sainted icons.
They were symbols of faith, drained of emotion.
Compare that with the loving gaze Mary gives Jesus
in the manger scene depicted here. Now look at
Joseph sitting in the lower left. Here's a man
weary from his ordeal. He's too old for all this
hoo rah rah.
A D O R A T I O N O F T H E M A G I
T H E M O M E N T G O D B E C A M E H U M A N
The Magi were wise men, royalty, from distant lands.
They set their course for a brilliant star, casting its light
over Bethlehem. The prophecy of the Old Testament
was true. The Messiah was born. With great humility
these wise men came upon the child.
F L I G H T I N T O E G Y P T
K I N G H E R O D W A N T S J E S U S D E A D
Herod was installed as king by the hated Romans
so he already had good reason to feel paranoid.
Now suddenly there was all this excitement about
a birth, the Messiah, born under his nose.
Immediately he knew he must find and destroy
this rival for his throne.
A guardian angel warns Joseph of Herod's threat.
Giotto paints Joseph leading a donkey carrying both
Mary and her child towards the safety of Egypt.
Two angels above are seen urging the holy family
to make greater haste in their run for the border.
T H E B A P T I S M O F C H R I S T
J O H N P R O T E S T E D - Y O U S H O U L D B A P T I Z E ME
Jesus insisted he be the one baptized in order to
submit to his own commandment for all to be baptized.
The Greek word baptizo means to dip or immerse.
Baptism by water purifies, cleansing one of their sins.
One becomes a part of the Christian community by
first stepping through the door of baptism.
The angels and God himself witness the baptism
of Jesus here in Giotto's fresco.
K I S S O F J U D A S
R E D E M P T I O N B E G I N S W I T H B E T R A Y A L
The fate of Jesus was preordained.
The treachery of an Apostle of Christ
was warranted if the action would lead
to fulfillment of the prophecy.
It is difficult to believe Judas Iscariot
could be bought for a mere thirty pieces
of silver. More likely he was disillusioned
with the mission of Jesus. Or did Judas
appreciate his role in bringing Jesus to the
Cross? Christ's death was the price needing
to be paid in return for humanity's redemption.
Judas might view his action as noble.
Meanwhile the Apostle Peter slices off the ear
of a man lunging at Jesus in the ensuing ruckus.
C R U C I F I X I O N
A T O N E M E N T F O R O U R S I N S
Pontius Pilate had no taste for putting Jesus
to death for blasphemy. For Pilate, Christ
was just another crackpot mystic that was
commonly seen wandering about the area.
But fearing a riot by the angry crowd
protesting in front of him, Pilate gave in
to their demand that Christ be crucified.
Roman soldiers were given the task
of bringing Jesus to his crucifixion
but not before they provided their own
brand of pain and humiliation to
their captive miscreant.
Jesus was dead.
Then comes his resurrection.
Christ now sits at the side of God
to judge the quick and dead.
But herein was also a promise.
Salvation and everlasting life
was possible.
The core tenet of the New Testament.
* * * * *
OVER EASY
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