John the Baptist was a humble man who lived a simple life in the desert, eating wild locusts and honey. His humility is further highlighted by his always pointing away from himself to Jesus and by his refusal to claim glory, even when he was mistaken for Jesus. St John’s sole purpose was to tell of Jesus’ coming and prepare the way for the Messiah.
John the Baptist was popular and in demand, constantly being approached for leadership and inspiration. Yet, he continued to point the way forward for others, teach them, and dissuade them from becoming dependent on him. A reflection of this text by sacredspace.com states, “He was like a good teacher who opens up new areas of growth for us
and brings our talents to their very highest level.”
Despite not knowing what to expect, he remained active and vigilant in preparing for the coming of Christ. He was focused on his role, not the outcome. Sadly, John the Baptist never got to see the result of all this work.
As you consider the life of John the Baptist:
How are you
preparing the way for Jesus?
How would you describe your role in this preparation?
Where does your focus lie?
