15 December 2022
Thursday of the Third Week in Advent
Who is this John the Baptist character, who even Jesus compliments with “among those born of women, no one is greater than John”? That is quite the recognition. John the Baptist is known in theological tradition as the last prophet. The long line of prophets through the Old Testament include Ezekiel, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Enoch, and Amos. They all were announcing the coming of the Messiah. Yet, what makes John the Baptist different or more important? He is the voice to speak the word. God the Father spoke one Word in all of human history, that Word became flesh and was heralded through John the Baptist. So, as we celebrated the Immaculate Conception last week, recognizing Mary as the perfect and immaculate receptacle of the Word, so there had to be a perfect voice and messenger, the one who leapt in Elizabeth’s womb (some theologians say that such a leap indicates John too is free from Original Sin). John the Baptist had a most important role to play in Salvation history.
However, how does John the Baptist’s role of the voice effect us? We are the hearers and doers of the Word in this world we live in now. Each of us have been called since the foundation of the world, given a vocation, and have a role to play in glorifying God with our lives. John the Baptist may be considered the greatest born of women, yet, “the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.” And, we have been drawn into this Kingdom through Christ’s entry into our World. As the prophet Isaiah voiced God’s promise “My love shall never leave you, nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” Let us believe these great prophets and live in this holy hope.