But one is not great because of the number of things amassed but instead by the things he or she has given away.

Reading:  I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Luke 7:28.

Good morning, happy Thursday and many blessing my dear family.

Today’s Gospel (Luke 7:24-30) is a continuation of yesterday’s Gospel. When the messengers of John had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John.  He asked the crowds: “What did you come out to see in the desert - a reed swayed by the wind?  Truly, what did you come out to see?  Someone dressed in fine clothing and one who dines on fine food and drink and lives in luxury?  Or did you come out to see a prophet?  John is a prophet and something more.  This is the man whom Scripture says: “I send my messenger before you to prepare your way before you!” Then Jesus solemnly said to the people: “I send my messenger before you to prepare your way before you!  I assure you that there is no one born of man or woman who is greater than John.  Yet the least born into the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

The people are warned not to discount John the Baptist as ‘just part of the scenery’ in a remote place where one might go to pray, or as a ‘hanger on’ of the powers that be in their palaces. Jesus has such praise for John, that we can regard him as offering a summing-up in his preaching mission of everything that the Lord had been trying to communicate through the prophets in previous ages.

What made John so great - and what an affirmation Jesus gives him! - was his readiness to take second place and point people towards Jesus. Are there situations in my life where I am asked to take 'second place'? (The person in ‘second place’ is often necessary but not prominent.) Am I happy with 'second place' like John the Baptist? Do I feel Jesus' affirmation of me? Do I hate 'second place'? Is there something I need to talk to the Lord about? But one is not great because of the number of things amassed but instead by the things he or she has given away.

John’s preaching represents an eleventh hour, last-chance opportunity, for the people to make themselves fit for the Lord’s coming. The Pharisees and the lawyers were too wedded to their own ideas to give John a hearing – and so put themselves outside the future that God was offering them. As we ourselves prepare to welcome Jesus at Christmas, we try to realize that our preparation has also to involve a welcome for any plan that the Lord may have in store for us.

None of this is meant to diminish John. Far to the contrary, it is both to acknowledge just how important John is as well as to anticipate even greater things to come. So perhaps we could paraphrase Jesus’ words just a bit to get to the heart of the matter: “John was awesome, but you ain’t seen nothing yet!”

In this season of advent, may we be motivated by nothing except our love for Jesus who died for us. This love will drive us to listen to John the Baptist as he tells us to prepare the way of the Lord and to make His path straight.

Blessings,

Luis+