John the Baptist: A Paradigm of Humility

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, January 15, 2017

John the Baptist began his prophetic ministry with a bang. The bang was loud enough that it was heard from near, far and wide. His revolutionary message got the attention of the public; as such, people from various walks of life were going to see him. Even though he was preaching in a desert, a place far away from home, people ignored the odds, traveled to the desert to listen to him. He was such a pivotal and essential figure that it’s almost impossible to really understand Jesus without understanding John. 

John came from a priestly family. His parents— Zechariah and Elizabeth, were priestly personages. Elizabeth was a descendant of the family of Aaron, the first priest of Israel; Zachariah was a practicing temple priest when John was born. Even though John the Baptist was of a priestly stock, his great message and ministry did not take place in the temple. In his time, the temple was mired in very messy, vile, and violent politics. So, he went to the desert to offer to the people, what the temple should have offered to them, but wasn’t, due to widespread corruption. He went to the desert and preached hope and forgiveness of sins. He was so unique, so exemplary, so revered that many actually thought he was the Messiah. When people came to him, he never asked for money, or tithe, or seed-sowing, or first-fruit offering. He never turned his ministry into a money-making project. He never asked for any monetary or material favor. He only asked them to repent, to shift their attention to God, to get ready for the coming of God’s kingdom. He told them that even though they had lost their way, all hope was not lost, that something can still be done about their moral and spiritual collapse. He announced that God has already done something about the ugly situation—he has sent a Savior. John challenged everyone to turn to God with humility, to turn the page of sin and wickedness and accept the Son of God. 

When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask John who he was, whether he was the Messiah, his response was, “I am not the Messiah” (John 1:20). Later, he saw Jesus coming towards him and joyfully announced, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” Did anybody notice the sincerity, humility and integrity of John the Baptist? When Jesus emerged, John knew that his fame and popularity will soon fade, but he was not jealous or upset. He was not perturbed that the spotlight is not going to be upon him anymore. He was not jealous that very soon, he will play a second fiddle role. Instead he turned all the attention he has been receiving to exactly where it properly belonged—Jesus. In fact, later on John said, “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30). Amazing declaration of humility!

Friends, John the Baptist is a shinning example, a perfect exemplar, and a perfect role model for us all, especially for some clergy and religious leaders who have a problem with pride; who cannot work under another person, who think they are larger than life, and who always want to be, stay and remain in the spotlight. He is an epitome of example for us all, especially those who often claim to be what they are not. He’s a good example for those of us who are constantly craving for recognition, and who will do anything to always be in the news, etc. John was a highly placed and respectable prophet, but he did not let his popularity and fame to get into his head. He did not forget who he was and what his mission was about. He knew the role he was to play, and he performed it with distinction. No wonder Jesus said of him, “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women,  there has been none greater than John the Baptist…”

John did the people of his time and for every generation a huge favor. He revealed the Messiah. In today’s Gospel (John 1:29-34), he continues the epiphany of the Divine Son of God to all the nations of the world. After the magi met Jesus, paid him homage and offered him three important and symbolic gifts- gold, frankincense and myrrh, nothing was said about them again. We are not sure they narrated their experience to others, just as the shepherds did. So, when Jesus entered the stage, he was virtually unknown. It was John the Baptist, whose popularity had spread far and wide, that introduced him to the people. With the weight of his popularity, he witnessed and testified for Jesus. He refused to let pride and arrogance get in the way. He refused to let the temptation to upstage Jesus overtake him. He refused to contest the center-stage with Jesus. When the moment was right, he testified for Jesus. He revealed him to others. He turned the attention of his audience who were already thinking that he was the Messiah to Jesus. After that, he deliberately exited the stage, and never did anything that undermined the ministry, message and mission of Jesus. Amazing!

The magi’s gifts to Jesus were symbolic. Gold symbolized his Kingship, frankincense symbolized his priesthood, and myrrh symbolized that Jesus will die. But guess what? What John the Baptist said of Jesus in today’s Gospel reinforces what those gifts symbolized. John called Jesus, “the Son of God.” In many cultures and nations, the first son of a king is accorded the same respect given to the king because he, the prince, is a potential king. He’s a king in waiting. Since God is a King, that makes his only begotten Son a King. John also called Jesus, “the Lamb of God.” In those days, lambs  or another animals were killed and used as sacrifice. By calling Jesus the Lamb of God John was foretelling his death, that he will be killed and his Blood will atone the sins of the world. Finally, John said of Jesus, “On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” That’s John telling us that Jesus is a priest. 

Like John the Baptist, are we willing to witness, testify and manifest Jesus to everyone we meet? Are we ready to decrease and then allow the Lord to increase in us? Letting the self decrease, and allowing the Lord to increase in us is what holiness is all about.