John the Baptist in the Spotlight

Learn more about John the Baptist here:  https://www.ncregister.com/blog/who-was-st-john-the-baptist-11-things-to-know-and-share

Fr. Frederick Edlefsen

In today’s Gospel, St. Luke narrates history.  He names the day’s bigwigs, starting with Ceasar Tiberius.  Then, Luke spotlights John the Baptist (JB).  He is the Forerunner, the Cousin, and the Best Man of the Bridegroom of Wedding Feast of the Lamb.  At a precise moment in history, JB calls for acknowledging sins, announces Jesus as the Lamb of God, and prepares us for the Savior who comes in real time.   

Rewind the tape by thirty years.  JB was ravished with joy at the Bridegroom’s coming when Mary visited Elizabeth, who was six month’s with the Cousin.  Elizabeth said, “the child in my womb leapt for joy” when a pregnant Mary said “I’m here”.  Now recall JB’s words thirty years later: “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the best man, who awaits and listens for him, is overcome with joy at the bridegroom’s voice” (John 3:29).  This joy would be felt anew whenever JB encountered the Bridegroom.  

Aside from baptizing Jesus, JB’s finest hour was handing off his disciples to Jesus saying, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29).  This all happened after JB came from the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance to forgive sins.  “People…were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins” (Mark 1:4).

The Best Man prepares us for the Bridegroom who, after the Resurrection, gives his mission to his Apostles and thereby to the Church:  “Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (John 20:22-23).  

JB gives us a supernatural ear to recognize the Bridegroom’s Voice. “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it” (Revelation 2:17).

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, “In every age there come forth things that are new and have no foretelling, for they do not proceed from the past.”  JB give us an ear to recognize the Voice that says, “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5).