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Christmas Reflection - Saturday after Epiphany
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January 8, 2022In the story we read in John’s gospel today both the Baptist and Jesus are baptizing at the same time, Jesus in Judea, and John in Aenon. It appears that a competition is brewing provoking a dispute between John’s disciples and a certain Jewish leader (Nicodemus?). Apparently, Jesus is attracting more followers than John, even though he himself did not actually baptize, likely leaving that ministry to the disciples acting under his agency and his authority (John 4:2). In any case, John once again gives testimony to his role: “I am the one who has been sent to go before him. No one can have anything except what is given him from heaven.” John’s response is simple, sincere, courageous, and visionary.
John the Baptizer was truly a man for his time… and for our time as well. No, he was not the Christ. He was only the voice crying out in the desert. He knew he could not change people. He could only baptize with water, but he said there is one among you whom you do not recognize. He will really baptize you, change you, pour his fire upon you. He will change your heart, your mind, your life! John was too honest, too zealous; he loved truth too much. He lost his head because of the sin he was not able to wash away.
John is still right. This world will never change unless we prepare the way of the Lord by changing our minds and hearts, unless we come to recognize the Bridegroom already in our midst. Unfortunately, we religious folk are notoriously conservative and reluctant to change. We too easily allow ourselves to be lulled into complacency. Unless, like the Baptist, we discern the presence of the Messiah in the midst of our world today, his coming in the past will remain buried in the past, and his coming in the future will never happen if he does not find entry through us in the present, rejoicing in the presence of the Bridegroom.
