1/7/2010
Called to announce Christ to the world
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 | Mary Jo Tully
Chancellor, Archdiocese of Portland |
The Baptism of the Lord
Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7
Acts 10:34-38
Luke 3:15-16,21-22
or
Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11
Titus 2:11-14;3:4-7
Luke 3:15-16,21-22
We know very little about John the Baptist. We met him first as the child who leaped in the womb of his mother at the voice of Mary. He comes to us as a prelude to Christmas, an Advent figure, announcing the coming of the Savior. His voice called us to prepare. Now only two weeks later, the Baptist’s appearance at our liturgy might seem an interruption in a celebration that we are reluctant to have end. Instead, it is a reminder of the meaning of the Incarnation.
As much as we know that John the Baptist is an Advent figure, meeting him now when we are caught up in the birth of the Child who joined heaven and earth is somewhat disconcerting. When we meet the Baptist at this liturgy, we learn that he has become a very important figure of his time. Today we would regard him as an “eccentric,” a prophetic figure off in the desert wearing strange garb.
For generations the Jewish community heard about the Lord who was to come. Isaiah assured the people that the “One who would come” would exceed all their expectations. He would be unlike any other they had ever known. For age upon age, the people of God were encouraged to dream no small dreams of the one who would be sent to them. Those who proclaimed the coming of the Lord were aware that he would more than live up to the claims they made for him.
From the beginning, people knew there was something special about the Baptist, too. They recalled the words spoken by the Prophet Isaiah 700 years before his birth: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.”
John the Baptist spoke with the same conviction and confidence as the prophets in the Hebrew Scripture. The Baptist knew that he himself impressed the people who listened to him. He must have been pleased with the attention he received in his ministry. Now, though, the Lord was ready to begin his own public ministry and John was challenged to bring his followers to Jesus — to let go.
John’s followers would have been quite content if John were to be the Savior himself. But John tells them that the Lord is more than he. And to put the seal upon John’s words, the Holy Spirit announces that Jesus is already among the people.
Like the Baptist, we are called to lead others to the Lord. The time for basking in the luxury of the infant Jesus is over. A task lies before us. Together we promise to “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord” by pointing to the Lord who has sent us.
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