Who Am I? | January 2, 2016

January 2, 2016

One of my favorite songs in the musical Les Miserables is when Jean Valjean is singing Who Am I? Jean Valjean had spent 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister and her sick son. He did his time and when he was released he realized that his ex-con status would forever plague his livelihood. A kind Bishop, however, had mercy on him when Jean Valjean was caught stealing silver from him (because he thought that was the only path for an ex convict). He gave Jean Valjean a second chance that saved his life and he became the most righteous man as a result. The Bishop told him that God had shown him this mercy and from now on he must do the same to others. Mercy is the superior rehabilitation model by far. The song Who Am I? is Jean Valjean making a decision to no longer identify himself only by his prison number, 24601, and essentially by the crime that he committed, confessed, and paid for in full, but to finally identify himself by his own name, Jean Valjean as “my soul belongs to God, I know, I made that bargain long ago. He gave me hope when hope was gone; he gave me strength to journey on. Who am I? I’m Jean Valjean.” Another man was about to pay for a crime and the authorities thought this man was Jean Valjean, so righteous Jean Valjean testified on his behalf so that he would not be falsely convicted and saved him from the prison hell that he once knew. Mercy is the superior rehabilitation model by far.  When we choose to be the person that God wants us to be we will find the strength and the courage to do what is right, what is good, what is merciful, what is kind, what is true. As God has shown me mercy, I MUST show others, and hopefully they will show me as well.

Today’s gospel is centered on the Jewish people questioning John the Baptist’s identity. Who are you? They thought he could be the Messiah, or Elijah, or a prophet. John said he was NOT any of those, but like Jean Valjean, he did identify himself by what God’s specific plan was for him, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,

‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”  I found this a bit chilling this morning because God has called us all for a specific mission that no one else has been chosen for. Do I identify myself by that call or am I stuck with my prison number? Right now, if I’m being honest, I feel a little stuck and have lost sight of the purpose to which God has called me. I fear that I would identify myself right now by the ugliness of my sin rather than on the beauty of the mission that God has hand picked for me. I need to work on that, as I’m sure a lot of us do as well. John the Baptist and Jean Valjean teach us today to embrace the plan that God has for us, to walk the walk righteously, to repent, to let mercy rehabilitate us, to make straight the way of the Lord, to remember that we belong to God first and foremost, and to know that while we are not worthy to untie His sandal straps, He still chooses us to be in an intimate relationship with him.  Mercy is the superior rehabilitation model by far.  Who am I? I am the voice singing from the prison cell, “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.”

Reading 1 1 JN 2:22-28

Beloved:
Who is the liar? 
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. 
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. 
Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.

Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. 
If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. 
And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. 
I write you these things about those who would deceive you. 
As for you,
the anointing that you received from him remains in you,
so that you do not need anyone to teach you. 
But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; 
just as it taught you, remain in him.

And now, children, remain in him,
so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming.

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4

R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Alleluia HEB 1:1-2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In times past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets:
in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 1:19-28

This is the testimony of John. 
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?”
He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted,
“I am not the Christ.” 
So they asked him,
“What are you then? Are you Elijah?” 
And he said, “I am not.” 
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.” 
So they said to him,
“Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? 
What do you have to say for yourself?”
He said:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’
as Isaiah the prophet said.” 
Some Pharisees were also sent. 
They asked him,
“Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” 
John answered them,
“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.” 
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.