If you had a top ten list of questions to ask John the Baptist, what would they be?
10) Growing up, did your mom and dad have to warn you to stay out of the river?
9) When you got home late and supper was put away – what kind of cook were you?
8) Did your mom ever despair of finding clothes you would wear? (or – doesn’t camel hair itch?)
7) Did you ever get into a fight with your cousin? (about religion?)
6) At family reunions, did you ever get tired of the old folks telling the story of your dad in the temple and being his being mute and how you got your name and stuff?
5) Did you always like hot, desert places?
4) Did you ever break out in a cold sweat when food was served on a silver platter and not know why?
3) Did you ever ‘lose your head’ in an argument?”
2) What did it feel like when Jesus came to you for baptism?
1) When you listened for God’s voice calling your name, what did it sound like?
This week, we are introduced to the great forerunner, John the Baptist, the original fire and brimstone preacher. His is not necessarily a comforting presence, is it? Yet the church invites us to reflect on this figure, to meditate upon him, to learn from him how we might make our own journey. So, what would be your top ten questions to ask of John? And what might they tell you about your journey?
For me – that last one is the most difficult. Because John reminds me there is another voice of God besides the one that comforts the afflicted. It is the one that John heard – the one that afflicts the comfortable.
It is the wild-man voice of God – a prophet’s voice – one that brooks no interference, that sets one on the journey. It is as harsh as the desert that is death dealing if you are unprepared.
This one doesn’t ask if one is not ‘trained enough’, or ‘old enough’, or ‘skilled enough’. It says GO.
It doesn’t ask if life has been easy for you or hard, if your experience has been kind or ruthless – It says “DO”.
It doesn’t ask how your self esteem is, or how tired you are, or whether you have over-committed yourself – it says SERVE.
It is the voice that says – “Just because you are in High School, or run your own business, or are a parent of 6 kids, or a student or a priest, that you can ignore the call to justice, to service. It is demanded of you. And lo the person who ignores the call – “for even now the axe is being laid to the root. Give some evidence that you mean to reform….”
It is the voice that Jesus heard as well in the garden – as he chose in that desert silence to say no to his own will and yes to God.
This week, I invite you to ask yourself: “When God calls your name these days – what does it sound like?” Perhaps you are hearing that soothing voice these days, the one that comforts you and coddles you and tells you “you will okay, despite this struggle you are going through.” And that is all fine and good.
But I also pray that it sounds often like the one that John heard – that wild man voice that calls you to concrete action – because only then will we be uncomfortable enough to make the words of Isaiah come true. Only then will the lamb lie down with the lion, the calf and lion shall browse together, the baby play in the adders’ lair – because we have done our part of the work of making the kingdom happen.