John the Baptist: A Life Lived for
Others
Rev. Sam T. Panicker
Carmel MTC,
Boston
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66 All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will
this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
In the Bible
there are similar God fearing couples like Zechariah and Elizabeth. Absence
of the next generation never kept them away from a pious and
righteous life. At last their dedicated life became justified by God, by
giving John the Baptist.
A child is
given for a community
Nowadays our children are nurtured according
to contemporary trends, while John was brought up more God
oriented and community oriented. The whole neighborhood celebrated John’s birth, his
circumcision and naming. The families were well connected in that time.
They shared the divine mercy and grace that God showered upon the priestly family.
Whatever we receive as His mercy and grace does not belong to us,
instead it is for others and divine purposes. We also have the
responsibility to share the joy and struggles of others. When we share the
joy it will be doubled, whereas when we share the burdens it will become
lesser and lesser. These types of sharing give us the thrill to live more.
Nurturing
starts at very tender age
The aged
priestly couple fulfills the custom and traditions of that time and
they trained John accordingly.
Infancy is the best time to nurture the children according to kingdom
values. It would take place in relation to the worshiping community
and neighborhood. Here the whole community prayed and celebrated the God
given life of John. That blessing and prayers
become a motivating force that leads John to choose an alternative
life. (Luke 1 ; 14-17 Mathew 3 : 4-11 ). It is during childhood
we should bring our children in to a systematic religious and social
upbringing. Church is an inter-generational community that encourage
healthy relationships.
Like His
name John’s life also
was a real breakthrough
John’s task in
history was to prepare a faithful community for the Lord. There were many
priests but less prophets or visionaries. The name John and the
naming process were entirely new at that time. Rather than the priestly
ritualism, John's focus is to propagate a life style of
simplicity filled with the Spirit. Many listeners responded to his message
of repentance and forgiveness of sins. His parents had no claim on his
life. They freely gave their child for the kingdom concerns and kingdom
perspectives. The present time also demands this kind of devoted
parents and spirit filled children.
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PRAYER
Lord you empower our young generation to be like the Baptist. Let them lead and guide our church. Amen.
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The divinely given are not ours
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