The mission of the Baptist is highlighted in the gospel for the third Sunday of Advent. When asked repeatedly who he was, John said he was the “voice” promised by the prophet Isaiah, the voice who would prepare the way for the Christ by making straight the road that leads to Jesus.
St. Augustine wants us to clearly distinguish the voice that speaks from the Word that is spoken. John is the voice; Jesus is the Word.
St. Francis de Sales greatly admires the humility of John who, as it were, “gets out of the way” so that the road to Jesus is unimpeded for those who long for God’s saving and comforting Word made flesh.
In his humility, John is the model of Christian discipleship. We, too, are called to be voices that speaks of Jesus as Savior and Lord to those with whom we share life. We do that by getting out of the way, as John did, and in doing that, smoothing the way for others to make their way to the Savior.
How, in daily practice, do we speak in such a way that others hear in our voice God’s Word? Holy and good people show us how. By their kindness, care, and foot-washing love, they point to Jesus as God’s saving Word.
Think of St. Theresa of Calcutta. She cared for the poorest of the poor and the most neglected, and the world saw on her wrinkled and haggard face the beautiful face of Jesus himself. They heard in her words, and especially in the example of her love, God’s saving and caring Word to us.
But she’d be the first to say that parents who sacrifice for their children do the same. In the age of Convid-19, first responders do so as well. The phone call you make to someone homebound; the comforting word you speak to someone grieving; the time you take to address a need in your neighborhood –the examples could be multiplied a hundred-fold. Each example, large and small, is an echo of the voice that speaks the Word!
Imitate the Baptist. Learn from that humble and large-hearted man how to be the voice that credibly speaks God’s Word to others!
Gratefully,
V. Rev. Lewis S. Fiorelli, OSFS
Provincial
Wilmington-Philadelphia Province
