THURSDAY DECEMBER 14, 2023
THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT YEAR B
ST JOHN OF THE CROSS, P.D. (MEMORIAL)
Isaiah 41:13-20
Matthew 11:11-15
ADOPTING THE LIFESTYLE AND DOGGEDNESS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Jesus presents the life, mission and integrity of John the Baptist to his listeners as a very sincere, forthright and dogged prophet who knew his mission and follows it to the end. A prophet who never slacked in his mission.
Recall that at this point, John the Baptist had sent his disciples to Jesus as he was in prison to ask Jesus if actually he was the one being expected. And Jesus eulogizing him, and it was a way of telling and extolling the virtues of John the Baptist and his seriousness in his life and mission.
Jesus talks about John’s lifestyle, a man who lived in the wilderness, eating locust and wild honey, never concerned about food and drinks but austere in even food and drink. His clothing Carmel’s skin and belt. And in his message to the world, preaching repentance and change of heart. Yet people flock to him, not because of his food or clothing but because of the message of life he brings to them. Jesus insists that the people going to him did not go because of what he wore or his clothing or what he ate as much as what he represents, a true messenger of God, who knows his mission and gave himself and all to his mission. And the people saw John as a true prophet of God, preaching repentance and calling people back to their root and to salvation. They follow John because they saw in him the source of their new life and the comfort for a better life with God.
Jesus extolled John’s virtues as a true prophet, and much more than a prophet, a true citizen of Heaven and greater than all prophets because of his lifestyle, his doggedness, his message and his witnessing to the mission of Christ himself.
Jesus therefore presents John the Baptist for us as a model of true disciple for his mission. And those virtues that endeared John to him, is proposed to us to emulate and imbibe for our salvation.
Just like the prophet Isaiah consoles and admonishes us in the first reading to never be afraid, never loosing heart, never succumb to pressures of the world in their bad things and bad life, never yielding to worldly desires and happiness so we are called to stay close to those virtues of John the Baptist and be dogged also in our quest for heaven by being singleminded, forthright, avoiding all that encumbers the mind and soul but bearing good witness to the salvation and good life in Christ. Always nursing the hope of eternal rewards and salvation in the after world. These were the legacies of John the Baptist which marked him out as an extraordinary prophet of God.
Heavenly Father, may our meditation on the lifestyle, mission and task assigned and as carried out by John the Baptist inspires us to greater devotion and commitment to the life of grace, witnessing and focus on eternal value in you. May we strive for better and closer union with you, greater witnessing to your commands in this advent season. And entrusting ourselves into you care, may we be granted and assured of unending peace, protection, happiness and fulfillment in this life and the life to come through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
