Third Sunday of Advent

Year B

John 1:6-8,19-28

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A man named John was sent from God.  He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.  He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.

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And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites [to him] to ask him, “Who are you?” he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Messiah.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?”  He said:

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“I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert,
“Make straight the way of the Lord,”’

as Isaiah the prophet said.”  

 

Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”  This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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Upon Reflection:

“With Creation, God does not abandon God’s creatures to themselves. God not only gives them being and existence, but also, and at every moment, upholds and sustains them in being, enables them to act and brings them to their final end. Recognizing this utter dependence with respect to the Creator is a source of wisdom and freedom, of joy and confidence.”

                                                                              -Catechism of the Catholic Church #301

 

You may be wondering what the preceding quote from the catechism has to do with this week's Gospel and Gaudete Sunday (Rejoice Sunday).  You also may be wondering why you even care what the Gospel or the catechism has to say about anything.  Indeed, if you are wondering why you care, you may already be starting to understand the Gospel and the subsequent teaching of the Catholic Church as described above because it would be a sign of your recognition that you do not make your own truth.  

 

Curiosity in what scripture and tradition has to say about God presupposes a confession on your part; and that confession is:  "I am not God."  You know deep down that your life is not your own.  You know that you are not the one who gives your life meaning.  You are not the Creator but merely a part of Creation - a creature.  

 

It is precisely this kind of recognition that John the Baptist displays in his answers to the priests' and Levites' questions.  "Who am I you ask?  Well, first let me tell you who I am not.  I am not the Christ.  I am not the perfect union of humanity and divinity.  But there is one coming who is, and it is he who I will follow as should you."  

 

John recognizes his "utter dependence with respect to the Creator" and thus words like "wisdom," "freedom," "joy" and "confidence" aptly describe him.

 

And so what then does the preceding quote from the catechism have to do with our Gospel reflection this week?  When we, like John the Baptist, are willing to confess that we are not God, and that is a good thing, we wisely find our source of freedom and confidently rejoice in it!