Gospel, Mark 1:1-8 John was raised in a village near Jerusalem by a devout mother (Elizabeth) and a priest-father (Zechariah) who knew God would call their son to a special mission some day. His early formation included prayer and an in-depth understanding of the scriptures. Eventually he left home and went to live in the desert of Judea. The lay monastic community of Qumran was situated in that desert near the Dead Sea. This same community later put their library in large pottery jars and stored them in caves in the hills above their community center during the Jewish war for independence (c. 66-70 A.D.). When all died in the war, no one returned to Qumran, and their scrolls remained forgotten in the caves for 19 centuries before being discovered in 1947. The community had a great devotion to the prophets, a heavily eschatological interpretation of scripture, and a practice of frequent baptism as a sign of repentance. Since John the Baptist had these things in common with that community, it is possible that he lived there or had contact with the community during the years prior to the beginning of his public ministry. For reference to his outfit of camel’s hair and a leather belt, see 2 Kings 1:8. Such was the outfit of Elijah handed down to Elisha. By wearing it, John identified himself as a prophet in the same line. About his diet…I called a nutritionist at the University of Minnesota to find out if John’s diet was healthy. I was surprised to learn that locusts and wild honey was probably a more balanced and healthier diet than most of us eat…and John didn’t waste much time on food preparation.
Note how much attention is given to John the Baptist in the four gospels. It is probable that, even into the era when the gospels were being written, there were many people who had dedicated their life to God through John but had not come to believe in Jesus. Rather than put down the ministry of John, the gospels praise his ministry while indicating that John himself was preparing for Jesus. Adherents didn’t have to put John aside to go to Jesus…they could follow where John himself had pointed.
Reading 1, Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 Verse 3, “a voice cries out in the wilderness…” is quoted in Matthew 3:3 in reference to John the Baptist preparing the way of Jesus. We joke that, here in Minnesota, we have two seasons: winter and road construction. In Old Testament times, many an army built roads, often referred to as the “king’s highway”, which increased commerce (with accompanying income from taxes and road tolls) and enabled the army to travel more rapidly to troubled areas. In Jesus’ time, the Roman armies were the experts, building roads connecting all parts of the empire. Think of our modern road system here in the United States…how many valleys have been bridged, how many mountains “leveled” with tunnels, how many narrow ways widened and rough ways made smooth? We are called to be part of God’s road construction crew, preparing the way for others to draw near to God.
Reading II, 2 Peter 3:8-14 Peter gives attention in his letter to refuting those who deny that Christ will return. He assures his audience that the “delay” is merely God being patient and that Jesus will come unexpectedly as a thief (2 Peter 3:3-16). It is easier to remain alert and “on top of one’s game” when the event for which one is prepared is imminent. With delay, interest flags and a person can get distracted with lots of things. That is one reason the imminent return of Jesus receives so much attention from some evangelicals. As Catholic Christians, we believe that Jesus will return at the end of time, but we focus more as Peter encourages…giving our primary attention to oneness with God now through lives of holiness and devotion, always ready for that final coming or for the individual’s passage from this world to the next.
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