Gospel of John 3:22-30
Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings.
This week while scrolling through Netflix's television show selections I stumbled across a British mini series titled Black Mirror. (Viewer Discretion Advised!) The series is a modern day version of The Twilight Zone with episodes exploring the "What If" behind technology and social media. The bizarre, and often repulsive themes, make it interesting yet dark viewing. It's frightening to think how technology causes a dignitary to perform an unmentionable act; technology enslaves an individual with 24 hour a day images and exercise; a technological device gives a person the ability to rewind the past; or a software package allows loved ones to speak to the dead! I've watched this show with jaw- dropping disbelief. Just what if our future took such diabolical shifts? When will be the end point of God's presence in our lives and the beginning of a Technological God? Will God allow man to destroy himself through technology?
In today's gospel, we find both Jesus and John the Baptist baptizing in the Jordan River. The disciples of John are in dispute. Is the Jew on the other side of the river an inpostor? Does he have the authority to cleanse away sin like their Desert Leader who subsists on locust and honey? What's going on here? John the Baptist makes the point that he must decrease as the Son of Man increases.
Imagine baptism in the form of the Jordan River behaving like both a mirror and a window. When souls are enamored by God, trusting in His divine protection with a willingness to follow His Truth, the water acts as a window into hearts. Lovers of God see through the glistening water opportunity to help those in need. They discover ways to evangelize the faith without "watering down" concepts or promoting false teachings. They honor the promises of Baptism, using its gift to the fullest....
On the other hand, the waters of the Jordan convert into a mirror when the faithful turn inward with selfish pursuits. They are so "in love" with their success and material goods that the water reflects back on them. Just like inside a Fun House at a local fair or carnival, the mirror can become convex or concave obscuring body images. Selfish souls view themselves grander than Our Lord, increasing their own worldliness while decreasing grace-filled effect of God's will. The mirror can easily crack and become black as sin literally takes over the selfish soul. Overtime, the mirror will shatter into millions of tiny little pieces. The weight of sin and a refusal to acknowledge God causes stress fractures beyond repair.
A mirror looks inward; a window looks outward.
A mirror highlights the self; a window allows us to see outside the self.
A mirror hides our flaws so they cannot be seen by others; a window makes our flaws visible to all.
Do you choose to honor your baptismal promises in front of a window, evangelizing the faith and honoring God's commandments? Or do you choose to ignore them living a life behind a mirror? I hope you make the right choice!
St. Raymond of Penafort, Pray for Us!
-J.
A mirror looks inward; a window looks outward.
A mirror highlights the self; a window allows us to see outside the self.
A mirror hides our flaws so they cannot be seen by others; a window makes our flaws visible to all.
Do you choose to honor your baptismal promises in front of a window, evangelizing the faith and honoring God's commandments? Or do you choose to ignore them living a life behind a mirror? I hope you make the right choice!
St. Raymond of Penafort, Pray for Us!
-J.
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