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In today’s gospel, the priests and Levites challenge John the Baptist, asking: “Who are you? What do you say about yourself?” John confesses he is not the Messiah, but that his life is a testimony to what God has done for us. We, too, would be wise to consider this all-important question: who are we?
I am Harry, married to Jennifer for nearly 40 years. I am a father of six and grandfather of three—so far. I suffer with memory loss, I wear hearing aids, and arthritic pain is a frequent companion. Each day, I join my suffering with Jesus, who makes it holy. I don’t understand how, but I believe. I recognize that the joys and sufferings in this life are opportunities for God’s love and mercy. When I walk with others, I am always pointing, like John the Baptist, to Jesus, the reason for my hope.
We who believe must rejoice that we have been chosen. We must give thanks in all things. We are called to be witnesses, crying out in the wilderness of our day, testifying so that others might hear and believe.