From today’s reading...
A man came, sent by God. His name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness to the light, so that everyone might believe through him.” John 1:6-7
Why does the Creator of light need a mortal, frail, sinful human “to bear witness to the light”?
I’m not sure, but I think it has something to do with us actively working out our own salvation by intentionally accepting God’s call and doing His will as co-creators of the universe we want to come back into existence.
After all, even Adam and Eve, before the fall, worked in and maintained the Garden of Eden.
They didn’t just lounge around napping in hammocks, eating grapes while elephants flapped their ears to disperse flies and mosquitoes.
But I digress. Back to John…
If I want what someone else has, I need to emulate them as closely as possible.
John the Baptist was the cousin of Jesus, the first to recognize Him, His baptizer, His messenger, His friend, and His first martyr.
Now John gets to spend eternity with Jesus.
That’s a fair trade: Give a few years to Jesus…be a tad bit uncomfortable for a few years on His behalf…and give your life for Him, and in return, live in eternal bliss with Him. Sold!
So emulate John, which is the only way to...
Stay the course.
Keep the faith.
Endure.
Market like you mean it. Now go sell something.