Celebrating this Eucharistic Liturgy of Gaudete Sunday, we may feel encouraged to rejoice, as the Latin verb commands us. However, the readings, especially the gospel, are far from genuine rejoicing. The words of John the Baptist are a direct assault upon the loves of some, if not many, of the people who were drawn to his roadside preaching. Someone once told me about a bumper sticker seen on a car. These are the words: There is a God ... and it is not you. Repeat the words to yourself.
It has amazed me that John always drew a crowd despite the harshness of his style and message. A Pastor acting and preaching the same message today would surely be the cause of an exodus from the congregation. What attracted the people ... of all statuses of life?
John, despite his toughness, was preaching a treasure that assured the people that God was very much involved in the world he had created. He even told them that God would soon, very soon, be with them, altering their history. And he was to the point: make ready for the festive celebration by repentance for their sins Open your eyes; humble yourself: this is an essential part of his message.
John's words were sharper than any sword the Roman soldiers were carrying. His words cut to the heart of life and especially to those hearts that were damaged by sin and corruption. Surely John would have a heyday preaching in our country at this time in its history. The Baptist reminded the hearers that there was one among them who was soon to be coming, after John.
God continues to live among us despite the corruption that has existed since the times of the Baptist. A newspaper or TV new report rarely describes evil among us in our land. Despite immorality and unethical practices God continues to be with us. Our challenge is to look at our lives "with insight rather than eyesight." We are challenged "to listen with our souls not only with our ears." We will never truly see or hear the Baptist's call to repentance in our lives until we slow down the rapid pace we live. John would contend that those who believe God is somewhat withdrawn from us and the pains our nation experiences now have not listened. He would charge that they have failed to look. For John God was still with his people ... and he would say the same today.
Sometimes we cannot find God in our lives because we think or act like we are God. We have to control our lives as we want. Our lives, our fate, our fortune are not, ultimately, in our hands. John would say that this is God's universe.
John's humility also attracted people. Apparently it was a virtue rarely observed by many. "I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal." This caught the hearers' attention. Consider what out of control egos have done to the Church, to the state and to the business world. Consider how many pedestals have collapsed. So many people became victims to their own designs. "But we cannot count John the Baptist in that march of fools."
God is among us today. Yes, he is. God can restore all of us. Ye, he can. We have to find him again: among the poor, the powerless; he is with those rejected by society. He is with those who shun the spotlights that create idols. He is with our children. We need to look. We can find him. We need to listen. He will whisper to us. We can experience God's blessings. Yes, we can.
But there is one simple warning I offer you as you consider these thoughts and wonder where we can find God: Do not look in the mirror: he is not there!
