A burning and shining lamp
John the Baptist stands out, between the Old and the New Testament. Being with a foot in the Old Testament, “the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he”; however, coming before the Messiah and preparing the way for him, he is the greatest “among those born of women” (Mt 11:11).
We call him the Baptist, because of his call to repentance and of the crowds who came to him, confessing their sins and being baptised. Jesus called him “a prophet” and “more than a prophet” (Mt 11:9).
Like Elijah, John was bold, courageous and fearless in telling the truth. He was afraid of nobody, and he only cared about carrying out his mission and being faithful to God who called him.
In a way, John was a very strange fellow. One might think that he was a bit deranged: living alone in the desert, dressed in clothes made of camel’s hair with a leather belt and having for food locusts and honey (Mt 3:4). His way of life was as prophetic as his own words. He rejected society, even their dressing and their food. Society was corrupt and in urgent need of radical transformation. We can say that he was a radical and uncompromising man. He did not claim to be what he was not. In fact, he considered himself to be only a voice, calling on people to repent, to change their ways and to prepare themselves for the coming of the Messiah.
People - the common people who is full of wisdom and insight – understood that he was not a crazy man and went to him in search of guidance and of meaning for their lives. Jesus spoke of him saying: “He was a burning and shining lamp” (Jn 5:35).
John’s voice still resounds and proclaims anew: “‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” (Mk 1:3)
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