Having had the grace of knowing a few sets of twins in my lifetime, it has always impressed me that there is a depth of communication between them that exists simply because they spent months together in the womb. They are connected in a way that few other people will ever connect. They always come to mind when I think of today’s Gospel passage. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, it seemed that Jesus greeted John from womb to womb, and John’s response was to “leap” within his mother. The two were not twins, but they shared a similar bond even from the womb.
A Bond that Endures
That bond seemed to last John’s lifetime. His lifelong mission, which it seems he may have known all his life, was to announce the coming of the Lord. From the moment described here in today’s Gospel to his public ministry of baptism, to his imprisonment and finally his death, John was announcing the coming of the Lord and preparing the people to receive His message of salvation.
The few times we have record of John’s actual words, they almost all refer to Jesus:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord,”‘ as Isaiah the prophet said.” (Jn.1:23)
“The one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” (Jn.1:27)
“Behold the Lamb of God!” (Jn.1:29;36)
“He must increase. I must decrease.” (Jn.3:30)
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” (Mt.11:3)
A Bond that Endures Even Death
The last of John’s words came as a question directed to Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” (Mt.11:3) John was in prison, about to die at the whim of a woman, and Jesus did not save him from prison or death. He did however confirm to John that He was the one. John endured prison and death knowing that his mission had been fulfilled. He had paved the way of the Messiah and pointed others toward the Lamb of God. This bond was full of trust and surrender to God’s plan. May we also surrender with trust to God’s plan in our lives.
[Readings: Is 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Lk 1:57-66, 80]
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