Living testimonies

What is the most meaningful gift you can offer the Infant Jesus this coming Christmas? Nothing more and nothing less than yourself. Your person, as a living testimony that paves the way for His coming into the lives and hearts of many others.

In the case of John the Baptist, he kept insisting that “he was not the light, but came to testify to the light.” (From today’s Gospel reading, Jn. 1: 6-8, 19-28). He kept drawing the attention of others, but not attention to himself. He kept pointing his listeners’ attention to the Person of Christ. And his credibility was based on his person, his lifestyle, his self-renunciation.

John spoke and taught with great courage and inner strength, unafraid of the powers-that-be who would oppose and silence him. “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet said.” (v. 23). He was a bold and fearless prophet, and yet most humble. “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” (vv. 26-27). He lived a simple life, devoid of worldly vanity and materialism. What an inspiring human example of freedom from the ego.

Moreover, John proclaimed a baptism of repentance as a condition for the coming of Christ. And by repentance, he was primarily advocating social justice. “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” And to the tax collectors, he insisted: “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” And to soldiers, he said: “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” (Lk. 3: 10-14). Not only that. Fearless as he was, John censured no less than King Herod: “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias was her name; and for this, John was imprisoned. (Mk. 6: 17-19).

But that evil, revengeful Herodias did not stop there. Even though Herod himself was aware that John was a holy and righteous man, and was even inwardly drawn to John’s call for repentance, Herodias won out.

On Herod’s birthday celebration, she took the opportunity of calling her gifted daughter to perform a dance that greatly pleased Herod. “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you,” he said to the girl. She ran to her mother and said, “What shall I ask for?” And the mother replied: “The head of John the Baptist.” We know the rest of the story. (vv. 19-29). But in God’s own time, and in God’s own way, good triumphs over evil, and life triumphs over death. John the baptizer is now St. John the Baptist, one of the greatest prophets of all time. And where are Herod and Herodias?

Thus, the very meaning of human life in God’s plan for the world is nothing more than love and justice. Not only for John the Baptist, but for each one of us, and for all of us as a nation.

This is our national situation today. You and I who claim to be followers of Christ are therefore missioned to proclaim a baptism of national repentance against widespread corruption among our people.

“Corruption is the gravest threat to Philippine democracy and society today.” This is the denouncement made by the Ateneo School of Government professors, the Makati Business Club, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. They were joined by the Coalition Against Corruption (CAC), whose members are the following: Barug Pilipino, Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference for Human Development, Caucus of Development NGO Networks, CBCP’s Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas and its National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace; National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections; and Transparency and Accountability Network.

The CAC will continually work for the following reforms:

1) The citizens’ participation in local development planning and budget reviews. Citizens should know how public funds are being used in their barangay, city, and province.

2) Choose civil servants who will build quality and integrity systems in government agencies, and spearhead the campaign from within the bureaucracy.

3) Strongly urge the Ombudsman to act on pending high-profile corruption cases, increase the number of competent field investigators, and uphold her mandate as protector of the people and not the powerful. (From The Phil. STAR, Dec. 2, 2008).

We are called to both herald the coming of Christ and incarnate His life in our own. We are called to be living testimonies of John and Jesus. The only meaning of a true Christmas in this life.

What a blessed life for this coming Christmas and thereafter! Amen.