Notes: | This picture was taken by “Timtom.ch” and can be found on Flickr.com. Located in front of St. John’s Cathedral in Lyon, France, this statue has welcomed the faithful for centuries. Built of the site of a 6th century church, St. John’s was one of the most famous cathedrals in the country until the construction of Notre Dame. Like the true baptism of Christ, here there is a beauty in its simplicity. It is amazing to think that this is the very moment that God humbled himself; the moment when Christ’s ministry began. Every thing that followed, from the death of Christ to the faith we have today, started here, between two men on the banks of the Jordan River. This picture seems to capture that moment. Just as John is baptizing Christ, a light shines down upon them – as if the voice of God is still calling down “This is my own dear Son”. In the background, and still out of focus, we have a grand cathedral and ornate stained glass. It is another subtle reminder of just how far things have come from those early days. At the same time we are reminded of the nature of our faith. Despite all of our grand architecture, at the heart of the Christian faith is that connection between God and humanity. That is exactly what we see here – a private look at an intimate moment where the God of all creation stepped down from the heavens so that we may meet him face to face and enter into that baptism that he brings. -- Patrick Darnell |
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