JOHN GROWS UP
“Now, now,” Zechariah said.
“He has followed the path God placed him on. I admit the neighbors tease about his attire
and diet, but, in my heart, I see the hand of God. He is so outspoken and does not back down,
even from the Pharisees. As a priest, I
have never seen anyone so determined that everyone should hear his message. He is filled with the Holy Spirit. Yes, I know --- since Mary visited.”
He continued, “It seems the people are listening to him. Israel needs to be prepared for the Lord and
I do believe our John is just the man to accomplish this. Our son.
Gabriel did say he would bring many of the people of Israel to the Lord
their God.”
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There he sat. Under a
tree. Was it safe to approach him? They had heard rumors, but gossip is not
reliable. Looking at him, the group
stopped and whispered, “Do we go back?” One
person said, “His clothes. He doesn’t
look like a prophet. He …..”.
“What does his clothes have to do with it? We came to hear what he has to say. My neighbor said he has a message we need to
hear. Said it would change our lives. I am going to talk to him. Are you coming?” With that, he started toward the man sitting
under the tree.
Not knowing what to expect, because they had heard about the passion
in his voice that would boom and sometimes condemn, he walked up to the man and
said, “Are you John?”
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My mind can picture all of this and I hope yours can too. I want you to see that John was real. He had parents who loved and worried about
him. He was alive. He was humble. He took the responsibility God gave him
seriously. Every action. Every word.
Every body lowered into the water.
Every soul washed with the water of baptism. Every time John shouted, “You brood of
vipers!” or “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” the people listened. They listened as John exhorted them and as he
proclaimed the Good News.
John was the voice calling in the wilderness. The crowds came.
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