Saint Lucy, by Francisco de Zurbarán Painted 1625 – 1630 © National Gallery of Art, Washington
Source: Christian Art
Gospel of 13 December 2022
Matthew 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people, ‘What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He went and said to the first, “My boy, you go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not go,” but afterwards thought better of it and went. The man then went and said the same thing to the second who answered, “Certainly, sir,” but did not go. Which of the two did the father’s will?’ ‘The first’ they said. Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you solemnly, tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.’
Reflection on the painting
Today we celebrate Saint Lucy, virgin and martyred in Syracuse, probably during the Diocletian persecutions (which started in 303 AD). We seen an unusual portrait here by Francisco de Zurbarán, depicting the saint from about the hips up. She is shown as a young woman with smooth, light skin, rosy cheeks, and dark brown hair wearing a crown of flowers. Zubaran portrays the young martyr as a contemporary woman of 17th century Seville. In one hand she is holding the palm of martyrdom, in the other she is holding a pewter plate with two human eyes on it.
Legend has it that Lucy, determined to dedicate her life to Christ, plucked out her eyes and sent them to a tenacious suitor after he insisted that the beauty of Lucy’s eyes allowed him no peace. Astounded by her devotion to her faith, the admirer converted to Christianity, and Lucy, the legend continues, later found her eyesight miraculously restored one day during prayer. It is possible that the young saint’s connection with eyes originated in the Latin source for her name, Lux or “light,” which is inextricably linked with vision.
And we are now less than two weeks ago from the true Light coming into our world at Christmas…
Lucy died a martyr. The Roman persecutors prepared a large fire to burn Lucy at the stake. However, when they lit the fire, the flames moved away from her body, refusing to touch her, physically avoiding contact with her flesh, as if the flames recognised that she was a saintly person. She emerged from the fire unscathed and then spoke eloquently about her faith, giving it as the reason why she wasn’t consumed by the flames. In the same speech she also predicted that persecution of the Christians would soon be over. How right she was. Less than ten years later the Edict of Milan was passed by Emperor Constantine giving Christians the ability to worship freely throughout the Roman Empire. The Romans felt angered and humiliated by Lucy’s words and a young soldier was ordered to kill her, which he did by cutting her throat. She died on 13th December 304 AD.
LINKS
Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today’s reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-21-28-32-2022/
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