The curtain comes down suddenly at the end of today’s gospel. And we are left with a mystery. Just before the end of this act John speaks an enigmatic pronouncement. He has responded to the priests and Levites sent to question him and has made it quite clear that he is not “the Christ,” nor a prophet like Elijah, nor “the Prophet” Moses spoke of during Israel’s forty-year wandering in the desert.
John may deny his importance, but he is a significant presence in the gospels. He is so well known by gospel readers that he is simply called John. But we know this is the Baptist, the precursor of Christ. Still, today’s scene ends with John’s pronouncement, “There is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” That’s where we are left as the curtain drops. There is someone more important than John coming. Who is this “one who is coming?” If, as John says, he is already among us, how will we identify him? These are Advent questions we will need to reflect upon and come up with our own responses from our experience.
The drama is built up by John’s denial that he is: the light, the Christ, Elijah, the Prophet and his admission that he is even unworthy to untie the sandal strap of “the one who is coming.” John is the forerunner of someone even more significant than he and so his role is to give “testimony,” or witness to the one coming. How about us, will we recognize the one who is to come? How will we know him? What signs are we looking for? Will we look for the same signs that Jesus exhibited in his lifetime? Or will we be seduced by the criteria of the world? And when we do recognize the arrival of Christ we, we who have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, will, like John, also be given the role of “witnessing” to Jesus, as John did.
What will help us recognize Christ in our midst and his meaning for our lives? The gospel of John will present “signs” to us: the water turned to wine, the cripple cured, the living water offered the Samaritan woman, Lazarus raised from the dead, etc. These signs will open our minds and hearts to Christ. Then, when we discover the significance of the signs and recognize in them Christ’s presence, then we will be enabled to give our own testimony of Christ, raised from the dead and among us now.
The gospel is specific about where John was when he testified about Christ — “this happened in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.” John begins his testimony to Christ in his own time, place and circumstance. Now, thanks to our baptism in the Spirit, we can testify in our own time, place and circumstance. The world is a dark place and Christ’s witnesses bring his light into the darkness, “so that all might believe” — through us.
John’s humility and words about “the one who is to come” gives us ministers a moment’s pause for reflection. For example, as a presider/preacher do my words and mannerisms call attention to myself, or do I, like John, speak of and point to Christ’s presence? If what John says is true, “there is one among you whom you do not recognize,” then we must reflect on how we treat strangers and greet people at our services. All of us liturgical ministers — servers, greeters, lectors, music and Eucharistic ministers, etc — must also ask whether our behavior both in and beyond the sanctuary gives testimony to Christ to all who know or observe us.
John the Baptist knew who he was and also the importance of the one who was to come. How would we answer someone who asked us, “Who are you?” Would we identify ourselves in our relation to Jesus? Now we are the voices in the desert crying out, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” We announce this message first to ourselves and then to the world. We are to prepare our hearts, our homes, our communities and our world for the “one who is coming.” One way we do this is by our living generously and imitating his meekness and his self-giving.
We hear John’s call to “make straight the way of the Lord” and so we pray this Advent for renewed fervor of faith, trusting what Jesus has shown us: rejecting the world’s ways of violence, selfishness, greed and indifference to the needs of people around us. We prepare for the Lord’s coming by conforming our lives to that of Christ. As we examine our lives and the world around us, we realize how much is not yet prepared to receive the Lord. Yet, we live in Christ’s love and have no fear as we wait and hope.
Our Isaiah passage is an essential one from the Hebrew Scriptures for us Christians. In chapter 4:16-30 of Luke’s gospel, Jesus is in the synagogue and quotes from this section of Isaiah. He identifies himself as the fulfillment of the hope expressed in it. In choosing this passage Jesus rejected the militaristic expectation many had for the Messiah-King. Instead, the “one who is to come” is certainly not one who conquers and rules by force. Jesus sees his role in light of Isaiah’s prophecy, as proclaiming good news to the poor, liberty to captives and a Jubilee year — the greatest of all sabbatical years, when the land was to lie fallow, slaves freed, and debts canceled. A big second chance offered to the whole community.
Today is traditionally called “Gaudete Sunday,” — Rejoice Sunday. Note Paul’s instruction to the Thessalonians, “Rejoice always.” What is the reason in our still-undone world for this rejoicing? We attend to what John the Baptist has signaled for us: one is coming to proclaim good news and release from whatever holds us captive. The Jubilee year Jesus announced has begun for us, it continues to happen and we are part of it. We have also been anointed to proclaim, through words and actions, freedom for those held captive in any way.
Haven’t we experienced the Jubilee in our lives? Some have been given a second chance by being set free from drugs, alcohol or from destructive relationships, to a new life. Others have been given a chance to start over through forgiveness of their sins and by interior healings that enabled them to live fuller lives with less fear and anxiety.
In sum: Isaiah promises one will be sent by God to heal our broken heart and to give us liberty and the experience of joy in relationship to God. John the Baptist primes the people and calls them to prepare themselves to see God’s promise fulfilled in “one who is coming.” Jesus’ arrival into our lives is always freeing and renewing. Just as the prophet Isaiah promised. That’s what John announced. So, as a result of Christ’s arrival Paul directs us to do what should come naturally for believers, “Rejoice always!”
WITNESS TO SPEAK
“There is one among you whom you do not know.” These words by John the Baptist referred to Jesus, who walked, still unknown, among those who came to the river Jordan to be baptized. John’s task was to “make the way straight” for those who would finally believe in Him. That’s how the early Christians saw the Baptist.
The words of John the Baptist are written in a way that, when modern Christians read them today, we are really puzzled by doubts and questions. Jesus
is among us, but do we really believe it? Do we communicate and follow Him closely?
The Church, indeed, keeps always preaching about Jesus. There is nothing more important to us than our Lord Jesus. At the same time, however, we are completely involved, busy with our own projects, ideas and plans. Jesus is left very much in the background. In fact, we ourselves try to hide Him while we concentrate on our own lives.
The greatest tragedy of modern Christianity, perhaps, is the fact that for so many men and women, so-called Christians, Jesus is totally absent from their heart. They do not know much about Him. They are not attracted, much less seduced, by Him. Jesus, for them, has become silent and almost invisible. There is not much about Jesus that can inspire their lives. Jesus never left a mark on them.
This Church, therefore, urgently needs “witnesses” for Jesus, true followers and believers who will reflect and remind others of Him. We need Christians who, by their way of life make the way easier for others to follow. We need witnesses who can speak about God the way Christ spoke about His Father; and who can
convey the message of love and compassion in the manner Jesus showed it to the crowds.
Of what use are our catechism classes and preaching if they do not lead others to know, love and follow Jesus with greater faith and joy? Why having so many Eucharistic celebrations if they do not help us to be in communion with the living Jesus, that is, with His project and His people for whom He died on a cross?
In the Church, no one can be the Light, but all of us can help to be witnesses for the light. No one is the Word of God, but all of us can be a voice that can speak and cry for Jesus’ sake.
REJOICE ALWAYS
Christmas is coming, and we must serve one another as Jesus serves us.
St. Paúl captures the joyful mood in these words: “Rejoice always…do not stifle the spirit.” In the Gospel lesson, the mood of keen anticipation continues as John the Baptist proclaims “the One who is to come and bring light to the world…the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten.”
This is the season when, in the same spirit of high hope and great expectation, little children wonderfully sum it all up in three little words: Christmas is coming!
Christmas: symbol of our high hopes and great expectations for life’s fulfilment is happiness. That’s what we are all after, is it not? Isn’t happiness the goal of life? Or is it? Do I surprise you when I say that happiness is not our goal in life? This is precisely the meaning of the Light that comes into our lives on Christmas Day. The message of Christmas is that we are called to follow the Lord Jesus in doing God’s Will. That is the constant teaching of the Gospel: not “Thou shalt be happy,” but “Thou shalt do the will of God.”
Happiness is the consequence of doing God’s Will. It comes not because we sought after it; it comes by the grace of God. Stop worrying over all those things you think are going to make you happy, Jesus says. “Your heavenly Father knows what you need. Seek first His kingship over you, His way of holiness, and all those will be given to you besides.” In other words, “Do my Father’s Will and He will make you happy.”
The clue to finding happiness is to stop looking for it, to forget about it. You lose life to find it. Self-seeking is doomed to failure. The question is not “What do I want?” but “What is wanted of me?” Our happiness is God’s concern. Our concern is to do God’s Will. Our concern is in Isaiah’s words…To bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted. (Is. 61:1 ) Our concern is, in St. Paul’s words:
To “comfort and upbuild one another”
To “remain at peace with one another”
To “cheer the fainthearted”
To “support the weak”
To “be patient toward all”
To see that no one returns evil to any other”
To “always week one another’s good”
If we do these things, the Advent spirit of high hopes and great expectations will dominate our lives. If we do these things, our very lives will proclaim the coming of Him who brings light to the world. If we do these things, those three little words, “Christmas is coming!” will bring that glimpse of the Divine Life, that little bit of heaven, right into our hearts.
TORCH BEARERS
The fourth gospel introduces us to the personality of John the Baptist in a very original manner. “A man came”, writes the evangelist, without giving us any
other details or qualifications. Nothing is said about his origins o social status. John himself knows that it is not important. He is not the Messiah, or the prophet Elijah or any other Prophet, as everyone expected.
This “man” sees himself as “a voice that cries in the wilderness: make a straight way for the Lord.” But we are also told that he comes “as a witness to speak for the light,” who will awaken faith in others: a man who will bring light and give life to others. How can anyone be a witness to the light?
A true witness must be like John the Baptist. He does not consider himself
“important” nor does he expect special treatment. He does not hold great expectations; but he is determined to carry out his campaign to the end. God is the light guiding his way, and he shows it in his life style and convictions.
A witness to the light does not speak much, but he is a voice. The content of his message is unmistakable. He wants to communicate everything he knows about it. He does not really speak about God, but what he says is intriguing. He is not
teaching a religious doctrine, but people become believers.
The life of a witness attracts and creates interest. He does not blame or judges anyone. He does not condemn, either. He invites people to trust in God, and get rid of fear. He shows new ways and, like the Baptist, makes a straight way for the Lord.
The witness sees himself weak and with limitations. At times, he finds that his beliefs do not get support or social acceptance. In fact, he is often confronted by indifference and rejection. This witness to the light does not judge anyone; nor does he consider others to be adversaries that he must confront or convince. God knows how to win over each one of His sons or daughters.
The world today is fast becoming like a desert or wilderness and this witness
has something to tell us about God and about love; he has something to tell us about a fountain that can quench our thirst for happiness, inherent in every human being.
The world is full of little witnesses. They are the simple believers, humble people who are known only to those who live with them. They are absolutely truthful and loving. They make a straight way for the Lord.