Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB reflects on the role of John the Baptist in the Gospel for 2^nd Sunday of Advent, Mark 1: 1-18.

Image: ©Bernadette Lopez, https://www.evangile-et-peinture.org/

Today, our gospel from Mark introduces the one who prepares the way for Jesus; he is presented as one who is different—something that we are not always happy with, but difference is important. The world would be so boring if everyone was just like me!

John the Baptist is seen preaching in the desert wearing camel's hair and a leather belt. His food is desert food, locusts and wild honey. He does not have anything sophisticated in his desert life. Yet this man, living a primitive lifestyle, lacking proper food and clothes, has become an attraction and a magnet. The people of Judea and the great city of Jerusalem flocked to the desert to hear his message and take part in his baptismal ritual. Why? The sophisticated needed God and did not find God in their lifestyles—in these difficult days with so many of our extras stripped away, we too are invited into a world of simplicity to find our God. This might mean just taking a few minutes peace and quiet to pray, or even take part in our Salesian Advent Camino.

Previously, if you wanted to 'meet' God, you went to the temple in Jerusalem. Now, those in Jerusalem literally turned their backs on the temple and went out into the desert to John. He was preparing for Jesus, who would replace the temple as the way to the Father. A second strange thing is that they were all baptised:"the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were being baptised by John for forgiveness of their sins." This also shows there is something new occurring and an old way of life is being left behind. Who is coming? John explains,

One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Mark 1:7-8

In today's gospel we find the unique example of that heart radically transformed to Christ Jesus in John the Baptist. He is the role-model for all those who call themselves Christian. We, like John are also called to go forth and "announce" the coming of Christ. Like John, we too are called to "proclaim" the Good News by our lives; to encourage our sisters and brothers to "prepare the way of the Lord!" The changes within the heart of John the Baptist enabled him to decrease while Christ within him increased. John "cries out" for us to "prepare" for the birth of Christ. He appeals for change—change within! Whatever that might mean for each and every one of us, we must strive to make those changes in our personal lives that will make us more pleasing to our loving God and Father. John the Baptist is a living sign of the transforming grace of God. Advent is that season that invites us to change; 2020 has forced change upon us in the most cruel way, especially for those of us who have lost loved ones to the virus. Our lifestyles and way of being Church have had to change over these past ten months and, hopefully, the transformation of Advent will help us to move forward. It cannot be stated enough, and today you are ,reminded, that there are changes for good that only YOU can make—don't wait for someone else to make the difference!

It would be a tragedy to allow the beauty of the change of seasons to pass us by because of distraction or indifference. It would be even more tragic to allow the season of Advent pass us by this year without striving to "change within", so as to become more like John the Baptist and point to the goodness of God, a God who continues to make a difference and to walk with us in the most appalling of times. As the popular poem has it, there are times when we need to be carried. Just as you are carried and loved by God, you too can carry and love others to the full this week:

One night I had a dream…

I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and

Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; One belonged to me, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before us, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, There was only one set of footprints.

I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest

and saddest times in my life

This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,

You would walk with me all the way;

But I have noticed that during the

most troublesome times in my life,

There is only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why in times when I

needed you the most, you should leave me.

The Lord replied, "My precious, precious

child. I love you, and I would never,

never leave you during your times of

trial and suffering.

When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you!