Preparing the way of the Lord
John the Baptist could be the central figure in today’s
homily. He prepared the way for the people of his time to understand the good
news of their salvation. That is the way God normally works; He sends the
message of salvation to us through each other. As St Paul once put it, how can
people know the truth about God if they have never heard it; and how can they
hear if nobody is sent to them?
Jesus found his first disciples among those who were
influenced by the preaching of John the Baptist. He had showed them the value
of self-control and of prayer; he urged them to listen to the inner voice of
God, with repentance and a faithful heart. The high point of John’s short
ministry was his meeting with Jesus. Not only did he get to baptise Our Lord
but he also helped some of his own followers to go with Jesus and become the
first Christian disciples. Through him, Andrew and his brother Peter, and
Philip and Nathanael became apostles of Jesus.
Clearly, God wishes us Christians also to help help other
people to know and love him. If in the first place, we were more committed to
our own Christian calling, we would be more effective in influencing others
towards religious commitment. Parents have the first opportunity to point their
children towards God. But their words will only be effective when backed up by
the actual example of their own faith and prayer.
People can influence others, for good or ill, in all sorts
of ways. A special kind of influence rests with the journalists and
opinion-formers who work in the media, press, radio and television and through
the internet. But ordinary people outside the media can also influence the
views and values of those with whom they talk and live. When looked at in light
of today’s Gospel, does our way of speaking and behaving in any way help others
to share our values, or do we confirm their suspicion that this world is a
selfish and cynical place?
And what about fostering vocations to the priesthood and
religious life, or to some active form of church service? The ability of our
Church to go on as a visible, organised community continuing in the prayer-life
and values of Jesus is under serious question today. But if enough people open
their hearts to God’s work, as did John the Baptist and those first disciples,
Andrew and Philip and Peter, then a way will be found to keep the world aware
of the saving message of Christ.
