Why is John the Baptist a Christmas Figure?

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Gospel: Matthew 3: 1-12

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair 
and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,
and the whole region around the Jordan
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves, 
‘We have Abraham as our father.’
For I tell you, 
God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit 
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, 
but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand.
He will clear his threshing floor 
and gather his wheat into his barn, 
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Many of us came to church this morning thinking, “Yay! We’re three weeks away from Christmas!” I imagine children skipping gleefully into church, believing that Santa’s going to deliver some goodies! 

Others walked into church humming “Jingle Bells,” or singing along to, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” in their head.

We settle in for the Scripture readings and then, BAM! The words of John the Baptist hit us, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?”

Part of me wants to say, “Mr. Baptist, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today? Did you not get the memo? We’re all excited. Christmas is only three weeks away.”

Are John’s words out of touch with the Christmas season? Or is there something we can take away from his message?

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John was a prophet. He was the final figure to foretell the coming of the Lord. In fact, he and Jesus go way back; they were cousins!

But now John’s mission and ministry are coming to a climax. He’s living in the desert, wearing a shirt made of camel’s hair and eating bugs. He’s preaching fire and brimstone … and people love it.

Crowds are drawn to him by the hundreds, even thousands. What was it about him that drew so many? What’s hidden in his words that can still speak to us today?

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John’s teachings in today’s Gospel center around the importance of baptism. “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,” he says, “but the one who is coming after me [Jesus] is mightier than I… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John does not prevent anyone from being baptized, not even the scribes and Pharisees. But he warns them that their baptism must lead to bearing good fruit.

We might say, baptism is to the Christian life what a wedding is to marriage. A wedding is only the beginning of marriage. There are years – even decades – of life to follow.

Throughout the course of a marriage, couples must learn how to be faithful, fruitful, how to listen, forgive, love, serve, and so on.

The same is true in the Christian life. Baptism is only the first day of our Christian journey, not the last. We receive the Holy Spirit, but then we must do something about it. 

In a sense, learn how to be a Christian.

So, in what ways are we living out the call of our baptism? How are we living as Christians and bearing good fruit?

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Allow me to offer a few concrete examples I’ve seen here in our parish.

Last week, we had 30 students from our youth group spend their weekend baking, then selling cookies in order to raise funds for Christmas. Next week, they’ll go to Target to personally select gifts for their underprivileged peers, people whom they’ve never met.

An act of love in response to their baptism.

Over the last several months, we’ve donated to causes like supporting refugees in Ukraine and the Little Sisters of the Poor in nearby Totowa. Dozens of you volunteer for the Soup Kitchen and / or bake for our SPX Café. 

Others serve on staff or participate in ministry, like the Knights of Columbus who decorated our church this weekend.

John the Baptist tells us to, “Produce good fruit.” And we can say, unequivocally, we are.

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The second lesson from John is to stand out. Sometimes, we’d rather just blend in. But followers of Christ stand out.

In John’s case, he lives in the desert, wears penitential clothing, lives on a meager diet, preaches, and baptizes.

How do we stand out? How do people know we believe in Jesus?

One example I’ve seen is courage.

A number of you have invited family, friends, former parishioners, and colleagues to, “Come and see!” This parish has grown by 100 families in two years for many reasons. One of them is because you stand out. You say to others, “Come and see!”

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We’re only three weeks away from Christmas. While John the Baptist’s words might come as unexpected to us, he reaffirms why we celebrate. Our Lord is coming… and we are ready. 

We love him. We serve him. We stand out.

Come and see!

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Image credits: (1) The Christ Child and the Infant John the Baptist with a Shell, Bartolome Esteban Murillo (2) John the Baptist, Lynda Miller Baker (3) St. Maria Goretti, New Orleans