John Foley, SJ
Today’s Gospel narrates a wrangle about the naming of John the Baptist, and out of courtesy, I need to go back a few pages in Luke’s story to remind you why.
Ron Rolheiser
The God Who Was Revealed in Christmas
Like John the Baptist, our impatience for truth and justice makes us want and expect a messiah who comes in earthly terms, all talent and muscle, banging heads together so as to rid the planet of falsehood and evil.
Eleonore Stump
What person who is past adolescence does not remember his youthful enthusiasms with perplexity? What happened to those dreams, those hopes, those great desires to serve the Lord gloriously?
Gerald Darring
John the Baptist had the task of preparing the people immediately before the arrival of the messiah. His message was one of repentance, change of life, metanoia. His baptism was a sign of change, of turning things around, in the direction of God.
Anne Osdieck
What in this reading tells you John was a humble man? Did John direct people’s attention to himself or to Jesus?