Greetings on this the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church
Readings: 1 JN 2:22-28; PS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4; Jn 1:19-28
Notes
Have you ever been on Social Media? It is often the case people ask questions to get the conversations going. Some questions are trivial, such as, What is your favorite color? Other questions are invocative, such as, Is Trump guilty of an Insurrection attempt? A wide range of questions. Some are to ‘get to know you’ and some are ‘get to trip you up’ and some are ‘who the <expletive-deleted> do you think you are’. There are many questions in our goepel portion this morning.
The Questions
- Who are you?
- What are you then?
- Are you Elijah?
- Are you the Prophet?
- Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
- What do you have to say for yourself?
- Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?
John the Baptist answers the questions in honesty and humility. We can even say, with gentleness, he was ignorant of the full scope of his mission and purpose. His Yes was Yes and his No was No. There was no confusion only purpose and personal identity.
He said:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’
as Isaiah the prophet said.”
“I baptize with water;
but 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.”
Here is the part you missed. Let me rewrite it in very specific terms.
“I baptize with water;
but the LORD is among you whom you do not recognize,
the LORD is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”
In all their questions they did not ask the important question: Can you show us the Lord? Yes, he could have, if they asked. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
They didn’t want to know.
They didn’t want to know (x2).
Let that settle in some.
Hear again. Listen to the echo of King Herod.
Matthew 2:7-8 7 as follows: Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”
Summary
In our sacred readings today we are confronted with many question posed to John the Baptist each in their own category (get to know, trip him up, and to accuse him of a crime). This account in the gospel of John sits in parallel to the questions King Herod had for the Magi. He didn’t want to find the Christ and neither did those who confronted John. Our first reading from the Apostle John’s letter takes a very direct approach to the hidden questions, that is, the questions not asked because they don’t want to know the answers.
Who is the liar?
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.
Editorial note: these statements are in reflection of the body of believers who seek to redefine the divine according to their own individual will. It is not an interreligious statement.
Reflection
If you profess Christ then let it be according to his anointing. We don’t need to make stuff up. We don’t need to add anything. We don’t need to take anything away. We can be like John, answering with honesty and humility. What we know, we say. What we don’t know, we remain quiet. As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him. And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming.
Personal Reflection
OK, so Social Media fans, an appropriate answer to your questions in the dialogical format of the internet.
Who are you? Gerry, LOL, duh.
What are you then? IRL, a roman catholic deacon.
Are you Elijah? No, but, AFAICT, I repeat some of what he said.
Are you the Prophet? NGL, No. Except as to my baptism into the OG Priest, Prophet and King, who is Jesus.
Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? No cap, I am ordained to ministerial purpose. I am baptized into the body of Christ so I am imitate him in this life.
What do you have to say for yourself? I love Jesus. He’s my fire.
Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet? Well, not sure why you throw shade, but I am just trying to live the Beatitudes and my ministerial duty.
The hidden question: Can you show us the Lord?
I’d like it if I was caught in 4k.
GTG
First Reading
Editorial note: these statements are in reflection of the body of believers who seek to redefine the divine according to their own individual will. It is not an interreligious statement.
Who is the liar?
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.
I write you these things about those who would deceive you.
And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming.
Responsorial
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Gospel Acclamation
In times, past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets: in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son.
Gospel
John answered them, “I baptize with water; but 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.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry