“John proclaimed, ‘The one more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandal. I have baptized you with water; but the one to come will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’” [Mark 1:7-8]
John has been the star of the show. The baptizer appeared in the wilderness and people from the whole of the Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were flocking to his riverside ministry. As I said he was the star of the show even though his message was a call to repentance, which means he was calling for folks to stop their current state of living and turn back to God. Even though all the limelight was on John, he knew his ministry. He knew he was to prepare the way for the one to come. And so, with humility, not false humility, John points everyone to the one who is coming, to Jesus, the Messiah. When everyone is clamoring for your attention, it is hard not to get caught up in the hype and notoriety. It feels good to be noticed and it is easy to be swept up with a feeling of importance. But all of us, not matter what our vocation, are to point to Christ. We are not the main show. As people of God, we are to be ambassadors for Christ as Apostle Paul says to the church at Corinth. Let’s remember our lives are to point to Christ.
Prayer
God of new beginnings, as this year begins to unfold help me to remember that the way in which I live and move and have my being in the world is to point to you. You are the source and sustenance of my life. May I be humble in your sight. Amen.
