The powerful appearance of the Baptist
marks the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ
who is Son of God, most powerful.
“Here comes with power the Lord God
who rules by his strong arm.” Is 40

John is a prophet greater than Isaiah
because his presence in the desert
is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
No other prophet had such power and privilege and place.

John is powerful and he knows it
else how could he say Christ is more powerful?
He is powerful in his fasting.
He is powerful in his word.
He is powerful in his endurance.
He is powerful in his magnetic personality.
He is powerful in his voice and message.
He is powerful in his persuasiveness
not even needing to work miracles.
He is powerful in exciting repentance.
He is powerful in bringing forth the confession of sins.
He is powerful in his confrontations.
He is powerful even in his humility.

Yet with all the power that his desert personality displays
he is quick to proclaim Jesus as more powerful.
The Christ is more powerful because he baptizes with the Spirit
while he, John, baptizes only with a symbolic water.
John has the symbol. Jesus has the substance.

In the world there is abuse of power.
In our individual lives there has been abuse of power.
The Baptist did not abuse his power.
Jesus did not abuse his power,
indeed he shares his power by sharing the Spirit.

We can also abuse powerlessness
by whining about our helplessness
in the midst of an oppressive society.
We are not powerless nor should self-pity move us to grovel in it.
Jesus has full authority in heaven and earth
which he shares with each one who is baptized.

We have power to suffer and die with dignity, to serve society with a “strong arm,” to celebrate life with a mighty dance.
The Baptist was honest. He did have power. So do I.

- Fr. Gerald Keefe