During this second week of Advent, we now turn our attention to John the Baptizer, somebody who has always been a bit of a mysterious figure to me. John was an odd man who wore coarse camel skins. He was a gaunt figure who ate honey and locusts. John was a fierce preacher and prophet in the desert of Judea.
Yes, in all of these moments, Jesus comes to save us! Jesus is God-with-us: Emmanuel. John’s mission, John’s preaching, and John’s faith were not in vain. As we continue on our Advent journey of faith, let us take to heart two lessons that the John the Baptist teaches us:
1) First, like John, we are to be emboldened by the Good News of God’s presence among us. We are to be passionate about God’s Reign of justice and mercy in all that we say and do. We are to be bold missionary disciples of Jesus Christ!
2.) And secondly, when we have those moments in which we are imprisoned by our doubts and fears, when we feel that our faith is not strong enough to get us through difficulties, it is in these moments that we depend totally on Christ Jesus. We allow Jesus to reveal his saving presence to us in all the good that he has done and continues to do in our lives.
In this way, with John the Baptizer and many others, we will prepare the way of the Lord for others, and for ourselves. May we be always be aware of our God who is always with us, our Emmanuel.
So, why were so many people drawn to John the Baptist?
Why did so many people leave the Temple area of Jerusalem in order to be baptized in the Jordan River?
I think the people were drawn to the firmness of John’s conviction that God’s Kingdom was breaking into the world. John believed with his entire heart that the promise made to the People Israel long ago was now coming to fulfillment. The reign of God’s justice, peace, and love would soon be embodied in the advent of the Messiah. John saw himself simply as the humble messenger of the coming of the Messiah. Those who repented of their sin would be welcomed into this share of the Reign of God.
John is a preacher and a prophet full of zeal, one who has encountered the saving power of God. He can - and he must! - preach the good news.
Yet, in this Gospel passage, we hear that John's desert ministry of preparing the people for the coming of the Lord has been suspended. John is in jail. John needs to know that his preaching, his ministry, and his entire life were not in vain.
In desperation, John asks Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” This question posed by John for Jesus is certainly ours, too. We’re aware of the struggles of faith that often arise in our lives. When life seems hard, when nothing seems to go right, when we keep falling into the same old bad habits, or when God's love seems distant or absent from our lives, we might experience a crisis of faith.
Why did so many people leave the Temple area of Jerusalem in order to be baptized in the Jordan River?
John is a preacher and a prophet full of zeal, one who has encountered the saving power of God. He can - and he must! - preach the good news.
Yet, in this Gospel passage, we hear that John's desert ministry of preparing the people for the coming of the Lord has been suspended. John is in jail. John needs to know that his preaching, his ministry, and his entire life were not in vain.
In desperation, John asks Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” This question posed by John for Jesus is certainly ours, too. We’re aware of the struggles of faith that often arise in our lives. When life seems hard, when nothing seems to go right, when we keep falling into the same old bad habits, or when God's love seems distant or absent from our lives, we might experience a crisis of faith.
Like John the Baptist, we can be imprisoned to our doubts and struggles. The light of hope fades. In our struggle to cling onto faith, we cry out: “Jesus, are you truly the One who has come to save me? How can I experience you as my Liberator, my Lord, my Messiah?” Jesus reminds us that we need only to look around us, even when are faith seems shaken – to see with new eyes of faith that God's Kingdom continues to grow all around us. Jesus, our long-awaited Lord and Messiah, is at work among us today, here and now!
To John – and to us – Jesus responds: “the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” This is Emmanuel. This is God-with-us! We've experienced the saving power of Jesus in our lives. The Lord Jesus gives us sight when we were unable to see the goodness in others or ourselves. The Lord Jesus cures us of those things which keep us confined, unable to walk as free children of God. The Lord Jesus whispers into our hearts that we are loved, that we are important and special to God, cleansing us of the noise of negativity that deafens us. The Lord Jesus raises us from death to new life, saving us from the powers of sin, addiction, and evil.
Yes, in all of these moments, Jesus comes to save us! Jesus is God-with-us: Emmanuel. John’s mission, John’s preaching, and John’s faith were not in vain. As we continue on our Advent journey of faith, let us take to heart two lessons that the John the Baptist teaches us:
1) First, like John, we are to be emboldened by the Good News of God’s presence among us. We are to be passionate about God’s Reign of justice and mercy in all that we say and do. We are to be bold missionary disciples of Jesus Christ!
2.) And secondly, when we have those moments in which we are imprisoned by our doubts and fears, when we feel that our faith is not strong enough to get us through difficulties, it is in these moments that we depend totally on Christ Jesus. We allow Jesus to reveal his saving presence to us in all the good that he has done and continues to do in our lives.
In this way, with John the Baptizer and many others, we will prepare the way of the Lord for others, and for ourselves. May we be always be aware of our God who is always with us, our Emmanuel.
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