December 17/Third Sunday of Advent
He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. ~ John 1.8
Having been a second soprano or an alto in every choral group I’ve ever sung in, I have a keen appreciation for what it means to play a supporting role. Rarely do altos get the show-stopping numbers; their job is to blend in, to fill in the middle, to contribute indirectly to the richness of the singing. Sometimes we forget, both in our daily lives and in our prayer, that we are not meant to be the center of the universe (or the singing group). In this age of social media, as we curate our Facebook profiles, create our Snapchat stories, and tend to our Instagram feeds, we may fall into the trap of thinking that we and our lives are endlessly interesting and worthy of attention. Even for those of us who don’t swim in those social media waters, there may be a temptation to regard ourselves as the main event in whatever we do. But in order to be persuasive witnesses to the Christian message – that is, to testify to the light – we need to be clear about our proper role. John the Baptist, the formidable and astringent prophet in today’s Gospel, understood that his job was to prepare the way for someone greater than he. That is our job, too. I am reminded of this whenever I look up at the altar of my beautiful and historic parish church. Immediately flanking the main altar painting of the Crucifixion are two Fra Angelico-style angels, gracefully robed, standing on little gray clouds, and — most importantly — facing Jesus with their trumpets lifted. They are a salutary reminder that our job as Christians is to glorify God, not ourselves. Only when we orient ourselves around Christ the Son can we reflect his radiant light out to the dark world.
Lord of the sun, the stars and the moon, Make me ever mindful that I am a supporting actor in the drama of salvation, and help me play my part to prepare for your coming. Amen.
To hear the Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge, sing “Fuit homo missus a deo” (There was a man sent by God), by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmJvK57OhuI
For today’s readings, click here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121723.cfm
