In today’s Gospel, Jn 1: 19-28, priests and Levites approach
John the Baptist and ask him who he is? They are wondering whether or not he is
the Christ, the Anointed of God, the Messiah.
He firmly states that he is not the Christ. They then want to know whether
he is Elijah or the Prophet and again he says: “No!” Exasperated, they say to him, who, the heck,
are you? We need to bring back an answer to our superiors. “What do you have to
say for yourself?”
John does not become defensive. He does not respond in
anger. Simply, he says: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make
straight the way of the Lord.’” When
approached by Pharisees, also sent to find out who John is, who ask him why he
is baptizing if he is not the Christ. His response is: “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.”
John knew exactly who he was and who Christ was. Do I know
who I am? Do I know Christ? If the answer is “yes,” to both questions, then why,
at times, am I defensive when someone approaches me and asks: “Who are you?” Why do I tremble slightly inside when asked: “What do you have to say for yourself?” Is it that I am not sure of my own identity?
Is it that I am not building my life on a firm foundation this day, that
of Christ Jesus, knowing that Jesus is my All, my Savior, my Defender, my
Protector? Is it that I am relying exclusively
upon self and not upon God? When those
questions disturb me, is it possible that I am in the process of serving
myself, enhancing my reputation, trying to draw people to recognize my
greatness and not directing people to the Lord?
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