A few weeks ago, I read
about the life of a circus promoter. “What interesting work that must
be,” I thought, “always being immersed in the hubbub of the circus, with the
animals and the acts, and getting a daily dose of watching the joy on
children’s faces.” Then I read on and discovered that he rarely got a
chance to actually attend the circus, because he was always out in front, doing
the legwork before the circus came to town. By the time the circus
arrived, he was already in the next town.
How difficult it must be to promote something that you rarely get to
enjoy.
That is the
life of Saint John the Baptist. As described in today’s Gospel, even the
circumstances of his birth and circumcision showed that John was no ordinary
person. Had he desired it, he most likely could have garnered a large
following for himself. He could even have competed with Jesus for
followers. Instead, he promoted the coming of Jesus, preparing the way
for Jesus’ triumphal entry into public ministry. And then, when the time
was right, he simply got out of the way and let Jesus speak for Himself.
How many of us
struggle to make a difference in the world, when what most people really mean
by “making a difference” is calling the shots? John the Baptist was a
great saint, but more than doing great deeds, he earned his reputation by
experiencing the presence of the Messiah, and inviting others to share that
excitement. He pointed the way to Jesus.
This idea of
pointing the way fascinates me. It’s not about doing things, it’s about
living in such a way that the things we do no matter how few or many, are done
in a sacred way. Saint John the Baptist’s entire life was a testament to
sacred living: his ministry, his speech, even his ascetic life in the
desert. All of these worked together to do one thing – give him the
credibility and passion to speak with authority about the coming of Jesus, the
Christ – to promote the Messiah.
So when we feel
we are in a spiritual rut, that our lives are just filled with mundane tasks,
perhaps we could benefit by asking ourselves, “What is the most credible and
authentic way that I can do that next task?” Even something as mundane as
taking out the garbage could be the beginning of a transformed life.
Though I have some ideas about how one could take out the garbage in a “sacred”
way, I’ll leave it to you and the Lord to come up with some of your own ideas.
I’ll simply get
out of His way and let Him speak for Himself.
