Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 3, verses 1 to 12 from the New Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible:

 

3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,

² “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  

 ³ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” ⁴ Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, ⁶ and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruit worthy of repentance. ⁹ Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ¹⁰ Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹¹ “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with^[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

 

John the Baptist was indeed an interesting character.  He wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt.  He sounded like Isaiah or Amos.  Indeed, he is described as the fulfillment of Isaiah Chapter 40 verse three, which reads as follows:

 

“A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'”

 

Set against the harsh backdrop of the Judean wilderness near the Jordan and the Dead Sea, John the Baptist called Jews to repentance so that God’s judgment did not fall on them first.  It is possible that John might have been part of the Essenes, an ancient Jewish ascetic sect.  His ministry took John the Baptist beyond his community to more broadly connect his call for repentance to baptism in the River Jordan.

 

Metanoia, the Greek word for repentance, means more than a quick apology for past indiscretions.  It speaks more profoundly to turning one’s life around and finding a whole new way of living that is closer to God.  Thus, in delivering this message of repentance, John showed us that it is not enough to seem pious or proper on the outside.  Through God, we need to be consistently righteous in thought and in deed – and humble enough to show mercy for others when they stumble, so that mercy will be shown to us when we ourselves fall short.

 

In addition to repentance, this sentiment of humility is critical to understanding John the Baptist and his ministry.  He knows that Jesus will follow him.  He reaches out to God as someone who knows he is frail in the flesh.  He does not try to be more than or different from Jesus.  He is content to reach for God, and then let God do the rest.

Please take a few moments to come close to God.  Does today’s scripture speak to you?  If so, why?  How can you live closer to God today?  What simple acts of kindness can you make to shine God’s light through you and into the world?  Can you provide a meal to someone who is hungry?  Can you talk with someone who is disheartened?  Can you provide clothing to someone who needs it?

Please also take a few moments to pray for God’s presence in your life, and in the lives of others.  Come to God with your joys and concerns, and hold them in mind as you pray and reflect.