Jubilee Icon

Patricia Resmondo

gouache and gold leaf

14" x 16"

2001

The Jubilee icon depicts Jesus as a boy of twelve and his earthly father, St. Joseph, catching fish together. After the Holy Family returned from Jerusalem when Jesus had been found in the temple, we read that he returned home and was obedient to his parents. We can know His life with St. Joseph was good by his references to God as father. His calling fishermen and many references to fishing cause us to believe he had learned to fish in his boyhood, and most probably by St. Joseph.

The icon is rich in symbolism and familiar Biblical references. The depictions on the four corners are traditional Christian symbols which have been used in the church for centuries. The small boat represents the Church. I have called it Jubilee Icon as in a jubilee on the seacoast, the fish swarm to shore and are caught in abundance. In this icon, the fish are leaping into the net.

Prayer and meditation with the Jubilee icon remind us that we are all called to be "fishers of men" as was St. Peter, and that "the harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few." The sun in the background represents both the dawning of a new day, a new creation, as well as being symbolic of the Sun of Righteousness.