Shawn The Baptist - Sunday Scriptures

In the famous movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, King Arthur and his knights come to an ominous confrontation at the Bridge of Death. In order to cross, they must each answer three questions. In today's homily, I focus on the first two: "What is your name?" and "What is your quest?" Put another way, these two questions are the most important questions you can ask in life: "What is your identity?" and "What is your mission?"

In the first reading, we are told that Jeremiah was known by God before he even existed. He has an identity beyond anything that he will later do. The same is true for Jesus. He has an identity apart from anything he does in his public ministry. The same is true for us. We have to know who we are apart from anything we do. How often we see people letting what they do or what other people think of them determine their self identity. Our primary identity is that we are beloved sons and daughters of God. If you get that right, nothing else can shake you.

From identity flows mission. We have to know who we are, but then we need to know for what purpose God has created us. Jeremiah was given the mission of a prophet. Jesus had the mission of giving his life for the salvation of the world. Notice that things did not seem to end well for either Jeremiah or Jesus. If we were to judge "success" on worldly terms, neither looks very successful. And yet, both of them fulfilled their mission. Jesus was the most successful person ever, even though he was ultimately killed. He fulfilled his mission perfectly. What about us? Do we even know what our mission is?

Knowing who we are and what our mission is gives us the secret to true peace and joy in life. If we are weak in our identity and mission, then we will spend our lives trying to avoid suffering and chasing fleeting images of fake success that the world offers. If we know our identity and mission then we will stand firm in our convictions and boldly face any sufferings that might come because of them. Jeremiah and Jesus are both great examples.

Jesus once famously asked his apostles, "Who do you say that I am?" Notice he's not asking about how successful people think is or if his message is getting through. Even though he's doing some pretty incredible stuff, this is not what is important. His identity is important. "Who do you say that I am?" Today, let's ask ourselves how solid we are in our identity and mission. Who do you say that you are? Better yet, who does God say that you are?

If we get the first two questions right, "What is your name?" and "What is your quest?" then any other question is easy. "What is your favorite color?" ... "What is the capital of Assyria?" ...or even "What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?"

The Israelites are so moved listening to the words of the Bible today that they actually cry. What happens when you read the Bible?

Football fans can be crazy. Yet this is the kind of enthusiasm God is asking of us, because he is crazy about us. He's our biggest fan.

Few details are known about the mysterious magi who visit the Holy Family in Bethlehem, but today's homily finds three spiritual keys.

On this 8th day after Christmas, we celebrate the day when Jesus is officially given him name by his foster father, Joseph.

Freddie Mercury might not be a theologian, but his famous question points to the meaning of family and even the essence God himself.

Are you bored with the Christian life? Maybe you don't know the story. If you don't know the faith well, then even Christmas is boring.

John the Baptist leaps for joy in his mother's womb at the presence of God in the womb of Mary. May we all leap for joy to welcome Emmanuel.

If Jesus returned today, are you ready? If there are some things that you would change, well, maybe just go ahead and make those changes. In today's gospel, people come to John the Baptist asking what they need to do to be ready for the Messiah. The answer might surprise you. John doesn't ask the people to do anything crazy. He just tells them to do what they are supposed to be doing and do it a little better.

So what are we supposed to be doing? Now that's a harder question. That's one of the most important things we can pray about. The readings today give us what should be good news, "The Lord is near!" What reaction does this news cause in you? If it's not "Joy to the World," then maybe there are some changes you'd like to make this Advent.

No one knows when the world will end or even when our lives will end. But one thing remains true, the Lord is near.

Do you feel far from God? Is your relationship not quite right? This Advent, God offers a highway through the wilderness to come home.