Today we celebrate the feast of John the Baptist…a strange and wild biblical figure who “outs” Jesus as the “Messiah”…”the long awaited one” whose sandal straps he is not worthy to untie. While we see John as the herald of Jesus there are many contrasts between them. Scripture scholar Albert Nolan argues that difference: "Conversion, for John the Baptist, meant fasting and doing penance. For Jesus it was more like accepting an invitation to a feast, or discovering a treasure or priceless pearl for which one happily sacrificed everything else. For John, forgiveness was a future possibility, dependent on baptism; Jesus preached forgiveness was a present reality, and baptism in the Jordan was no longer necessary. Conversion is a radical reorientation of one's life. It declares a life of no compromise and no half-measures."
What I find so interesting is that scripture is clear that while in prison John sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus who he really is…through their encounter they come to believe and become disciples of Jesus. But it seems, according to scripture, that John never makes the final leap himself to become a disciple of Jesus. Some scholars have argued that John's "pre-understanding" of the Messiah prevented him from making the final leap of faith and becoming a disciple of Jesus. Perhaps then John the Baptist can be seen as “the patron saint of seekers”… perhaps he can be an example for those of us who are still "on the Way", still seeking answers, still asking questions, continuing the search, hoping for the grace of enlightening and the enlightenment of “Grace.”
Who is Jesus for me? How does being a disciple of Jesus impact the way I live my daily life? Am I open to “Grace”? Am I still seeking...or have I settled? With all that has come to light and continues to come to light about the dreadful and inhumane treatment of the immigrants -- babies, toddlers, children, young adults, adults and families crossing into the US -- let us continue to keep them in our prayers, let us continue to put pressure on Congress and the President to make compassionate and meaningful immigration legislation reform. Let us keep pressure on our political leaders to act in the right and just manner to reunite separated families and end these family’s nightmares!
This is our Christian duty to our immigrant and migrant sisters and brothers. Let us not let them down; let us not turn away in shame. Rather, let us be emboldened by the Holy Spirit to stand up, to stand together and to stand with them in their time of suffering! Please visit www.justiceforimmigrants.org, a website sponsored by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops for information on how you can get involved and how you stay informed on this humanitarian crisis. Other websites such as the Media Center at Catholic Charities USA have information as well on what is being done and how you can help. How I choose to, or choose not to, respond to this humanitarian crisis is at its core a matter of living out my discipleship…it is nothing less than responding to Jesus’ words; “I was a stranger and you welcomed me”!
Blessing,
Fr. Tim
What I find so interesting is that scripture is clear that while in prison John sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus who he really is…through their encounter they come to believe and become disciples of Jesus. But it seems, according to scripture, that John never makes the final leap himself to become a disciple of Jesus. Some scholars have argued that John's "pre-understanding" of the Messiah prevented him from making the final leap of faith and becoming a disciple of Jesus. Perhaps then John the Baptist can be seen as “the patron saint of seekers”… perhaps he can be an example for those of us who are still "on the Way", still seeking answers, still asking questions, continuing the search, hoping for the grace of enlightening and the enlightenment of “Grace.”
Who is Jesus for me? How does being a disciple of Jesus impact the way I live my daily life? Am I open to “Grace”? Am I still seeking...or have I settled? With all that has come to light and continues to come to light about the dreadful and inhumane treatment of the immigrants -- babies, toddlers, children, young adults, adults and families crossing into the US -- let us continue to keep them in our prayers, let us continue to put pressure on Congress and the President to make compassionate and meaningful immigration legislation reform. Let us keep pressure on our political leaders to act in the right and just manner to reunite separated families and end these family’s nightmares!
This is our Christian duty to our immigrant and migrant sisters and brothers. Let us not let them down; let us not turn away in shame. Rather, let us be emboldened by the Holy Spirit to stand up, to stand together and to stand with them in their time of suffering! Please visit www.justiceforimmigrants.org, a website sponsored by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops for information on how you can get involved and how you stay informed on this humanitarian crisis. Other websites such as the Media Center at Catholic Charities USA have information as well on what is being done and how you can help. How I choose to, or choose not to, respond to this humanitarian crisis is at its core a matter of living out my discipleship…it is nothing less than responding to Jesus’ words; “I was a stranger and you welcomed me”!
Blessing,
Fr. Tim
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