3rd Sunday of Advent
My dear parishioners,
God is Good!!! All the time!!! And all the time!!! God is Good!!!
This familiar oracle brims over with the enthusiasm of a prophet totally committed to God’s service. The passage comes from the book’s closing chapters celebrating the nation’s return to God. The prophet is thrilled to be the one to bring such good news to the people. He speaks of sharing the great privilege of kings or priests who were anointed with olive oil for their special service. He has the spirit of God upon him, granting him all the strength and creativity needed for the task.
The character of John the Baptist is portrayed differently in John’s Gospel than it is in the synoptics. In John, he is never identified as the Baptist. He is not characterized as the precursor or forerunner of Jesus. In fact, he is not a messianic figure of any kind. He has one function and that is to give testimony to Jesus.
Testimony to the light. He came to testify to the light. Verses 6–8 are inserted into the very poetic prologue to the Gospel of John and serve the purpose of rooting this message in history. We learn that John is sent from God. His mission is to testify to the light in order that through him all might believe in the light. There is a strong disclaimer made that John himself was not the light.
Negative testimony. The Jewish officials from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to interrogate John regarding his identity. The motive is not given, but it is apparent that some had heard or thought that John was a messianic contender. Very forcefully, John made it clear that he was not the Christ. Commentators point out that at the time this Gospel was written, there were still disciples of John the Baptist claiming that he was the real Messiah. So there is a polemical edge to John’s strong denial. He goes further and denies any connection with Elijah or the prophet, both of whom were connected with the coming of the Messiah. So far, this interrogation has produced nothing but denials. Those doing the interrogating still have no idea who this person they are questioning really is.
Positive testimony. The tone of John’s testimony now turns positive as he identifies himself with the voice of Isaiah 40:3. This voice in the actual Hebrew text cried out to prepare the way of the Lord in the desert. The point is that John, just like this voice, is to give testimony to the Lord. At this point, there are some Pharisees who have also been sent to interrogate John. The Pharisees focus on why John baptizes if he is not a messianic figure. John does not address this question directly. Instead, he testifies to the greatness of the one coming after him which is obviously a reference to Jesus. So much greater is Jesus than John, that John is not even worthy to untie his sandal strap. John has now fulfilled his primary role of a witness who gives testimony to Jesus.
Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Aloysius