DAILY HOMILIES #John the Baptist

There is nothing in this life worth killing another person for. Nothing. Today’s first reading is worth pondering to anyone involved in Yahoo Plus (ritual killing) and those considering it. What will you gain by taking another person’s life? Everything in this world is just a mere breath. You will get tired of everything one day. You may even become irritated with money. Meanwhile, you can never replace the life you have taken.

Herod was not thinking straight when he promised even half his kingdom to a little girl. What if she had asked for his head? Think before you speak. Be a master of your emotions. In moments of anger, hold it. In moments of excitement, hold it also. Learn the habit of speaking to God and hearing from him before talking.

Prophesying is not the same as giving a merely motivational speech. There is an aspect of prophecy that causes discomfort to its listeners. Preaching truth takes work. Anyone determined to take this path must be prepared for death.

New wine is good. Old wine is also good. The problem is using old wineskins to store new wine or vice versa. This parable points to the importance of timing. Your plans may be perfect, but if it isn’t the right time, you will pour new wine into an old wineskin. Sometimes, God does not answer our prayers because He knows the timing is wrong. Do not lose trust in God. If the wedding guests cannot fast now, the time will come when they will have no choice but to fast.

In John the Baptist, we learn that no human life comes into existence randomly. God does the selection, arrangement, and planning. We existed in God’s mind even before we were formed in our mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13 says: “For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb.”

Our celebration today brings our Christmas celebration to an end. Jesus is no longer a baby but a fully grown man. From tomorrow, we enter the season of Ordinary Time. Like Jesus, our baptism should be a necessary launch pad for great things in God’s kingdom. We shouldn’t be content with possessing a baptismal certificate. We must put it to work.

Rise above the world; do not be conditioned by it. Yes, we all are victims of poverty; we are all struggling to survive harsh conditions, but it doesn’t mean we can be bought. Be that person who would not move even if offered all the money in the world. Let your faith in Jesus go beyond lips service.

If we claim to be children of God, there are certain things we should never do, whether or not anyone is watching us. As children of God, we should never be ashamed or afraid of living righteously. On the other hand, we should not assume that everyone is a child of God.

We are against Jesus (anti-Christ) when we refuse to allow Christ’s words to govern our thoughts and actions. We are antichrists when, as men of God, we mislead our flock or fail to practice what we preach. We deny Christ when we refuse to use our position to advance the Gospel. John the Baptist rose to a certain position of social influence. He had become popular, attracting large crowds.

Let us learn to be silent, even if it is just for a few minutes every day. And as we celebrate Christmas, it would help to play Zechariah by taking time for quiet reflection.

The point in today’s messages is simple: Jesus is God in the midst of people. We have no reason to doubt that Jesus is the Promised Messiah. Every prophecy about Jesus came to pass, even those made thousands of years before he was born. We do not need any further proof. Jesus is Truly God.

In today’s first reading, God says: “O that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your prosperity would have been like a river.” In other words, if only we would trust God enough to keep His commandments, we would find the desired prosperity. Jesus would later throw more light on this point when He said: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you” (Matthew 6:33).