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Homily for Thursday before Epiphany, Jn 1:19-28
Today’s readings remind me of the parable of the donkey who thought he was the Messiah when he entered Jerusalem. That was because he was met by crowds of people who were waving their palm branches at him. Some of them were even laying their cloaks on the street and giving him something like a red carpet welcome, while the rest were shouting Hossana to him. He did not know that the one they were raving about was not him but the passenger on his back.
You know, it feels very much like that when people begin to give you so much attention all because the Pope has given you a red hat. Perhaps if I were the type who thinks highly of himself and is hungry for recognition, all this attention would have given me a bloated ego and made me believe that I am someone really important. You know what can happen when people who are hungry for attention are put in positions of authority; they can turn into authoritarians; they can start throwing their weight around and demanding some entitlements, special treatments and privileges.
Did you notice how many times the word REMAIN was repeated by our Gospel reading? The closest related figure of speech that comes to my mind is the expression “Keeping one’s feet flat on the ground.” The apostle is reminding the community whom he is addressing in his letter that if they want to have confidence when the Lord appears and not be put to shame, they should allow his Word to remain in them. John is reminding his fellow proclaimers of the Word that it is God’s voice people wish to hear from them, and God’s face they wish to see in them.
John the Baptist is saying basically the same thing in the Gospel. Before he answers the questions of people who want to know WHO HE IS and WHAT HIS MISSION IS ABOUT, he first makes it clear to them WHO HE IS NOT and what his work IS NOT ABOUT. To those who thought he was the Messiah, the Son of God, he declared rather plainly and simply, I AM NOT. Meaning, I am not the Messiah whom you are waiting for.
John the Baptist called people’s attention, not to himself but to Christ. He made it a point to deflect all the attention that was being given to him, to the One who, he says, is coming after him, the one whose sandals’ straps he is not even worthy to unfasten.
I mentioned this at my Thanksgiving Mass after Pope Francis made me a member of the College of Cardinals. Whenever I preside at Mass and process to the altar, I try not to look at the people who, I know, are all looking at me. I try to fix my gaze instead on the altar and the Crucifix behind the altar. It is my way of inviting the community to focus on the true presider at each Eucharist—Jesus Christ, the one and only head of his body the Church. We can only represent him, head and body together, never substitute for him.
It is only after the Mass that I greet people, as I come down from the altar. That’s when it’s ok to greet the donkey who has already accomplished his task of carrying the Lord on his back. That is the time to recognize the same Lord whom we all have received, and whom we now carry with us to the rest of the world.
