Sunday Meditation: John the Baptist, Again

This is the second Sunday in a row the Gospel focuses on St. John the Baptist.  Last Sunday we looked at him through Mark’s Gospel.  Today we get an even fuller characterization through John’s Gospel.

 

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.

 

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 Christ.”

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:

“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 Christ 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.

~Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

Bishop Robert Barron’s sermon on John the Baptist is the absolute best understanding of the saint that I have come across.  This is a must listen and perhaps a must bookmark. 

 

Did you get that?  John the Baptist is the summation of every religious figure.  Here is the sculpture Bishop Barron alludes to of John the Baptist at the Cathedral of Chartres. 

 

 

Doesn’t he look a little like John Michael Talbot?  Here is a lovely song by John Michael, "Worship and Bow Down."

 

Meditation: “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”