Fr. Bob's Reflection for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time -

John the Baptist is not the most traditional or charming character in the Gospels. In all likelihood, he would not be on our guest list for a dinner party. His appearance is rugged, clad in camel hair, disheveled with no haircut and a long beard. His message is always loud and unfiltered: “Repent!” Yet, Jesus speaks about him with unmatched admiration: “Among those born of women, no one has risen greater than John the Baptist.” John’s greatness was not about his appearance; it was about his calling. He was great in God’s eyes, because he had an uncommon assignment. His whole life had one focus: every step, every word and every moment was pointed toward Jesus. He made it very clear: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” He never pointed to himself. He tells us that he is not Christ. He tells the priests and the Levites, “Among you stands One who you do not know. The One whose sandals I am not worthy of loosening. He must increase, I must decrease.” His purpose, to prepare the way for Jesus, began before he was even born. Remember when Mary, newly pregnant, rushed to the hill country to meet Elizabeth? Elizabeth was six months along with John. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, John leapt for joy within the womb – already recognizing Jesus, already responding to the Light, though unseen and unheard. John’s life was Christ-centered from the very beginning. It should not surprise us that John the Evangelist places John the Baptist in the prologue to his Gospel. He was a man sent from God, who came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe, through him – not as the light, but always pointing to it. Like John, you and I are called to bear witness to God; to be God’s presence in the world. We, too, have a mission to point to Christ. God’s presence is seen in the world through His image and His likeness – which lives in us. So, how do we act like John and point to Christ? It’s simple. We can act like Christ. It’s not an impossible mission. To be Christ-like is to follow Him on His journey. We do not need to reproduce every action of Jesus’ life. We do not have to copy Him down to the smallest detail. We do not have to repeat His every word and action, like a movie script. To be Christ-like means something deeper. It means embracing the foundation that guided Jesus’ life. It means choosing God’s will over our own. Each time we pray, “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven,” we commit ourselves to God’s purpose. And if we Christians do not point others to Christ, who will? No matter where God has placed you, the root principle that motivates you should be the same root principle that powered the life of Jesus. Remember His words: “I seek not My own will, but the will of the One who sent me.” The way we act, the way we live – that is the way others must learn the impact that Christ had; how He made a difference in our world. We hold the power to remind those around us of Jesus: The way we love, show mercy, practice patience and serve quietly in everyday moments. My friends, it is not a pious impossibility. This is our Christian vocation – to point to Christ and say, “Here I am, Lord. I have come to do Your will.” Yours in Christ, Fr. Robert Warren, S.A. Spiritual Director