John 1: 19-28
Long before Jean Valjean, another John wrestled with this question - who are you? Some asked if he was Christ, the Messiah of God. Sone asked if he was the Prophet, or Elijah. Everyone was captivated with the figure of John the Baptist, but each time people asked these questions, he rejected them. John knew who he was. He was John, one sent merely to point the way to the coming Messiah, one sent to prepare the way for Another.
There are many today who claim the mantle of the prophet. Many today have the aura of Messiah figures. They would deny this, of course, though they see themselves as existing in order to save the Church or to save society. Such figures have existed since the time of Jesus, and they will continue to exist until the end of time. Today's Gospel portion reminds us, however, that such roles are not to be accepted by any of us.
Our role, our identity and who we are is the same as that of John the Baptist. We are to point out the presence of the Lord in our world today - in the poor and marginalized, in the hungry, thirsty, naked, immigrant, migrant, stranger, in the sick and imprisoned. It is there the presence of Christ resides and stands in judgment over us, but also calling us to serve him through deeds of love and mercy for these very ones where his presence resides in our world today.
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