Breaking the Word

"What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' He said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go. Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.  (Mt 21:28-32)

These days’ readings are taken in such a way we are assisted to reflect upon John the Baptist. There is always some link with the person of John the Baptist. John the Baptist came into the world to prepare the way of the Lord. In fact he was sent by God (there was a man called John who was sent from God – Jn 1:6). John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.'" (Jn 1:15)

The prime duty of John was to bear witness. He bore witness to Jesus saying that Jesus was with God and Jesus was greater than him and John was not worthy even to bend down to untie his shoes. In bearing witness to Jesus, John realizes his own self and his relationship with him. He accepts in reality and in humility that he is only the voice in the wilderness.

Those who believed in the preaching of John and repented form their sinful ways and turned towards God are in the kingdom. It is not the status of the person or the position of the person which is important rather it the repentant heart and the following of God is that which gives entry into the kingdom.

When he had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, "By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them in reply, "I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John's baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?" They discussed this among themselves and said, "If we say 'Of heavenly origin,' he will say to us, 'Then why did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet."  So they said to Jesus in reply, "We do not know." He himself said to them, "Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.  (Mt 21:23-27)

Today, there is a lot of discussion on Baptism. People are confused as to which one is the correct one or the right one. The same situation arose at the time of Jesus. John the Baptist was baptizing in river Jordan. Jesus makes use of this situation to answer the question on the authority of his doings. People have began to accept that what he was doing was right but they were worried about the authority.

Regarding Baptism we have a reply from John the Baptist himself. He has said that he baptises the people with water but there is another one coming after him who will baptise with the Holy Spirit (Mk 1: 8). Baptism which Jesus gives does not dispute over water and the sort. They are only external signs but what is important is the baptism which Jesus gives.

People or those who want to have control over the others always worry about the activities of the others. Whatever work one does is questioned by the people who rule over people or want to rule over people. All what Jesus was doing was by the presence of the Father in him. He was doing godly works and naturally it was from above. Here the people in authority wanted to trap him.