Theological Avoidance

Gospel: John 1: 6-8, 19-28

How often do we human beings use transference, projection, or outright avoidance in order to evade the core issue in our lives? In religion, theology is often employed to avoid the essential issue.  In today's Gospel the religious authorities are focused on John's identity and credentials rather than his core message of repentance and the arrival of God's kingdom.  This is a phenomenon we will see throughout the Gospel, and if we examine ourselves we will find it as a theme of our own lives.

The religious leaders press John on his identity - are you Elijah, the Prophet, the Christ? Would they actually have heeded his message if he were any of these people? Would we? As it is, we know that when the Christ came they did not heed the message then either, and neither do we.  Even those of us who recognize Jesus as the Christ ignore this core message of repentance, offering mercy, and accepting God's kingdom in preference for theological insignificances.  

John the Baptist accepted the message of repentance himself.  He accepted his status and who he was.  He could have accepted any of these titles and become a cottage industry phenom and wealthy itinerant preacher.  Instead, John focused on the message: repent, offer mercy, accept God's coming kingdom.  That is our task as we travel through the Gospel this church year.