“Seek
not the favor of the multitude; it is seldom got by honest and lawful means.
But seek the testimony of few; and number not voices, but weigh them.” ― Immanuel
Kant: (1724 – 1804: German philosopher)
Gospel
Text: (JN 1:19-28)
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.
In today’s gospel John the Baptist is
not trying to convince anyone about who he is or what he is trying to do.
He answers the questions from the priests and the Levites calmly and
resolutely. John does not explain away his behavior nor does he
need invented resolutions which focus on how he can love and serve Jesus.
John responds by asserting what he
does, “I baptize with water….” Then, pointing out that “there is one among you
whom you do not recognize…,” he gives testimony to that other person by
testifying to his own unworthiness, “…whose sandal strap I am not worthy to
untie.”
Testimony is not given in words, the
testimony which is most honest, is the testimony of actions/deeds. We have come
to the start of a new year, one which is laden with challenge. How will you
respond?
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