John the Baptist is one of the major figures of Advent. His name (Hebrew Johanan) means “YHWH has shown mercy and grace”. Just as the people of Israel once entered the Land through the waters of the Jordan, so now, at the baptism of John the Baptist, God reveals His Son to show His mercy – highlights Representative of Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin for Catholic-Jewish Relations and Research in the Holy Land Fr. Prof. Mirosław Wróbel in his commentary for the Heschel Centre at the Catholic University of Lublin for Sunday, December 17.
John the Baptist was the son of Zechariah, a priest in the Jerusalem temple, and Elizabeth, a relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus. As Fr. Prof. Wróbel indicates, “He could have led a quiet and prosperous life, but discerning the voice of God’s call, he enters the Judean Desert to ‘become the voice of one crying out in the desert’ in asceticism and humility. This expression taken from the prophet Isaiah becomes a description of his identity. John the Baptist teaches us that in order to fulfil God’s will, one must be clear about one’s identity”.
John knows he is not the Messiah, Elijah, or any of the prophets. “He is a witness to the Messiah with a deep union with God. He testifies that Jesus is the Light of the world and moreover recognises in Jesus the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world” – observes Representative of Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin for Catholic-Jewish Relations and Research in the Holy Land. Through his words and actions, John calls for amending one’s ways and announces liberation from sins.
“In all his humility, he is aware that his baptism is a kind of preparation of the people to meet the true Messiah, whose sandal strap he is not worthy to untie” (Jn 1:27) – highlights Fr. Prof. Mirosław Wróbel and adds that John’s identity “develops in a space of humility and complete trust in God”.
John’s testimony applies to all Christians as well. It teaches the importance and relevance of being a humble witness to God. “The closer a Christian is able to cling to the Triune God, the more they experience His power and victory over sin and weakness” – sums up Fr. Prof. Mirosław Wróbel.
