St. John the Baptist is a major Advent voice preparing the way for the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. Today, we heard in the Gospel (TLM) the moment, when in prison, John sent his disciples to ask Christ a question. "Shall we look for another?" I have no doubt that John already knew the answer to that question. So why did he ask it? I think he wanted to wean his disciples from himself and turn them to Christ. His "voice in the wilderness" was about to go silent and he wanted his little band of brothers to follow the One whose sandal he was not fit to unloose.
Jesus asked the crowd about John to help them see the baptist's role in preparing the way for Himself:
What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? a prophet? yea I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist. [Matthew 11: 7-11]
John's final agony and execution resulted from his defense of marriage. He was no shrinking violet, no "reed shaken with the wind," when he called Herod to repentance for marrying his half-brother's wife, Herodias. John stood like a rock firmly fixed to the mountain of God's word. He rebuked Herod and Herod was attracted to him and listening until the fateful day when his rash promise to Salome and human respect gave the devil his chance.
But nothing could shake John's foundation not even imprisonment and threat of death. Like many martyrs, he must have known the inevitability of persecution and execution. He did not waver in the winds of persecution. He stood like a rock!
John is our Advent model. Reality knocks at our door -- suffering for upholding the truth is the default position for everyone who calls Jesus Christ "Lord." The devil will use every device to attack us and lead us to despair. How shall we respond? The answer for me personally has been to pray the Surrender Novena every day. When we give all our sufferings to Christ and let Him "take care of it," we can rest securely in confidence that He will, indeed, come to our assistance and "make haste" to help us.
As St. Padre Pio often said, "Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer."
May Advent bring you peace of soul no matter what you are facing. The holidays so often become a source of stress and sorrow rather than joy. Don't let that happen. Turn everything over to Christ. Be a child. Put straws in the manger for every suffering accepted. Unite them all to the cross of Christ. Then Christmas truly will be a time to sing the Halleluiah Chorus!
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