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Reflections on John the Baptist, A good soldier is not violent. A good fighter is not angry. A good winner is not vengeful. A good employer is humble. This is known as the virtue of not striving. This is known as the ability to deal with people. This since ancient times has been known as the ultimate unity with heaven. --Tao Te Ching When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, "No, he will be called John." They reminded her that no one in their family had that name, so they made signs to communicate with his father. Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote: His name is John. "You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the most high, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, giving his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins." And so the child grew and became strong in the spirit, staying in the desert until his manifestation. A voice cries out in the wilderness ... the voice is challenging. The voice is unwavering. The voice disturbs our complacency. The voice is unbridled. The voice breaks into our comfortableness. The voice is confident. The voice in die desert forces us to look honestly at who we are. 'Me voice is truthful. The voice can go unheard "Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." So the crowds came to him and asked, "What should we do?" "Whoever has two coats should share with the person who has none. Whoever has food should do the same." Even the tax collectors came. "Teacher, what should we do?" "Stop collecting more than is prescribed." Soldiers asked, "And what is it that we should do?" "Do not practice extortion. Do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages." "I'm starting a process in you with water, to cleanse and refresh you. Will you be happy to settle with just what happens on the outside? Will fear keep you from truly repenting? The one who comes after me (whose shoes I wouldn't even dare touch) can transform you from the inside. Spirit and fire purify and refine (which is going to hurt, but change always does). How do you want to live? Who do you really want to be?" "Have you ever been hit so hard that it actually changes your direction? That 's what I want to do, hit you so hard that you turn onto a new path, the path of life and righteousness. How can I be so full and satisfied, when my brother is so hungry and empty? That child is thirsty, how can I be quenched? My sister is crying, how can I not taste her tears? Repent The Kingdom of God is not a place, its way for us to live together." "What did you come out here to see? If you can dismiss me as some kind of 'freak' then you don't have to change, you can just go back to the way you were. Can you? The choice is yours, it always was. I'm just trying to prepare the way for you to make the right choice." John allowed himself to be taken and put into prison. He was willing to allow his light to die down so God's could shine brighter. "Hey guard, what' s going on out there?" "Same old thing, John. Beggars in the street. Preachers telling them how much better it will be after they die. Same old thing. We know different, don't we? But you shouldn't have challenged the old man like that. What were you thinking?, " "I was thinking he would have a change of heart and if he did, everyone would .... I'm not going to make it out of here, am I? All I wanted to do was to help them see what I see. Is that so bad?" So, in the 15th year of Tiberius' reign as Caesar with Herod Antipas and his brother Phillip as Tetrarchs, John was put to death in prison Does a voice still cry out in the desert? |
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