Is. 61:1-2a, 10-11; Lk 1:46-50, 53-54; 1 Thes. 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

Who are you?  In today’s world of identity politics, the question is “who do you identify as?”  It places the question of self-identity on solely self-determination as the source of reality without question.  Thus, some claim to be female or male, others transgender, LGBTQ, or “Other” among a list of categories.  This introspection on responding to “who are you?” fails the test of reality based only on self-determination.  Born into one gender by all genetic standards a child is asked to self-determine their own identity by choice and explore the possibility of being something other than who they were born to be. 

The revelation of our identity is based on who God created us to be and then go forth and be the best of ourselves.  It is in relationship to him that we come to know our true self and from it our purpose.  Those that find themselves in the role of “Questioning” need to seek to find themselves in God the true source of identity and reality.  The first reality of our identity is recognizing we are created in the image of God.  This sets the precedent for our discovery of ourselves by following the path of recognizing God in our lives and if we must ask the question of “who am I?” then it follows to ask God to reveal himself to us to best know ourselves. 

In today’s gospel we hear how the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask John the Baptist “Who are you?”  His answer was what God created him to be “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”  Who we are, our identity comes from God and in relationship to God’s purpose for our very existence.  To know thyself is to discover our purpose in serving the greater good of humanity and of salvation history.  John the Baptist came to deliver a message and set the stage with the baptism of repentance while waiting for Jesus to reveal himself in the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  We too have a divine purpose for bringing the good news and the greater good that can come from it in our homes, our work and in the church. 

In baptism we have all be anointed and given the robe of salvation with a duty to serve.  We have received the “mantle of justice” to proclaim the greatness of the Lord.  Jesus receives us as his brothers and sisters thus it is fitting for us to receive his mother as our mother by doing the will of the Father.  We are all one in him and in him to recognize “The Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name”.  There is power in the name of Jesus. 

What good does it do a person to say “I know myself” without a purpose to be beyond thyself?  Consider that Satan turned the tables on humanity when he tempted Adam and Eve into eating of the forbidden fruit to discover their identity saying “when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know good and evil” (Gen. 3:5).  The temptation to know thyself without knowing God’s divine purpose creates for an indulgence into self absorption or as Eve saw “that the tree was desirable for gaining wisdom” (Gen. 3:6).  The Lord in the first commandment teaches we shall have no other gods but “God alone” yet we have become a secular world in search of being our own gods.  Wisdom does not come from the apple of the world but from the inspiration of God himself. 

Rejoice in who God created us to be.  Rejoice in him who sets captives free, brings us glad tidings, heals our broken hearts, and gives us liberty from the chains that bind us captive in our own sin and sickness.  Rejoice when we recognize God in our presence giving thanks for the blessings of our day, the challenges to fight the good fight when temptation, sickness, or persecution come our way.  Rejoice because we are never alone in our battle and the power of the Word brings us peace in difficult times.  Until we rejoice in our creation in the image of God we are left to ponder in our restlessness or as St. Augustine said “until we rest in him”. 

Advent is our time to ponder where are we in our identity as the image of God in anticipation of his coming. Are we living up to the divine standard set in his word and multiplying the gifts we have received by grace?  In our honesty we recognize how easily it is to lose sight of our greater purpose, to get caught up in serving the world which is never satisfied and forgetting to “Test everything” as we are told in the second reading.  We test everything through prayer meaning “Pray without ceasing” and listen for the “prophetic utterances” that come from God.  In God all things matter! 

Our goal is to be open to God’s utterances to make us “perfectly holy…spirit, soul, and body…blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”.  This may seem an impossible goal for us as a sinner but consider this.  When we come to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we receive perfect holiness into our spirit, soul, and body to be transformed into his image in perfect holiness.  Take this moment of perfect holiness to ASK for his holiness and begin to see how our lives will “retain what is good” and “Refrain from every kind of evil”.  God does not promise something he will not deliver.  It is up to us to ask for his grace, mercy, and wisdom to discern and unite our will to his in perfect charity. 

Today We are a people who “Rejoice always” in being the children of God “sent to bring glad tidings” for the conversion of souls.  “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” as we read in Thessalonians.  Not only in the good and prosperous but in the sacrifice and suffering we are called to give thanks by coming to the table of thanksgiving at the altar of God in the Mass.  The question remains for us to answer as posed to John the Baptist, “What do you have to say for yourself?”