What does John the Baptist have to teach us?
Today’s gospel lesson features John the Baptist. John was a prophet and contemporary of Jesus. To find him, folks would make their way into the wilderness of Judea. His clothes were made of camel’s hair; while his diet consisted of locusts and honey. John’s prophetic message called on God’s people to repent; or in other words, to turn their hearts and minds back towards God’s dream for this world. Those moved by John’s message, would partake in a ritual cleansing and recommit to God by being dipped or immersed in water. Hence his nickname as a baptizer. John was that unique kind of eccentric person, who has a way of making you feel deeply uncomfortable, and yet at the same time, you can’t quite turn away. He captivated people's senses. Prophets often have this skill. As God’s messengers, they are called to speak to particular communities facing their own individual concerns. Yet the themes are often the same. Typically, they call on people to turn back towards God,