JOHN THE BAPTIST IS AN HISTORICAL FIGURE

II SUNDAY OF ADVENT:Lk 3:1-6

“In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the lands of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrach of Abilene, during the pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas the word of God came to John son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.” (Lk 3:1-2)

In this Sunday’s gospel, Luke is very careful in situating John the Baptist historically. The gospels are not first and foremost books of history. They are proclamations of the Good News of salvation brought to us by Jesus Christ and, at the same time, they are catechesis - the catechesis  given in and to the Christian communities, in order to deepen the knowledge of Jesus Christ and of his way of life and in order to guide and strengthen them, so that they stand as true witnesses to the love of God. The writers of the gospels were neither secretaries writing a report nor journalists putting down the detailed facts observed by them. Empowered by a deep and strong love of Jesus Christ, they felt obliged to help many others to have a share in that love.

The Greek and Roman world were full of stories of heroes and of gods, which expressed the most deep human desires, revealed through the most vile or the most honourable and glorious actions. Luke makes it very clear that John the Baptist and the Messiah that he announced were not fairy tale stories. They were real people who lived among other people. Their lives can be situated in a certain time and in a certain place. John started his ministry during “the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign” (Lk 3:1).

As Christians, we do not believe in fairy tales. Jesus and Jesus’ gospel have their feet well grounded on the soil of human living. And that is what we are preparing ourselves to celebrate at Christmas: the mystery of the Son of God who came to share our life and our suffering, in order to bring salvation.

My prayer

“My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best.” (Fil 1:9-10)