If someone were to come up to you and ask, “Who are you?” How would you respond? You might say your name. But who are you? You might say your nationality. Who are you? You might say your occupation (e.g., I am a home maker. I am a truck driver) or your grade in school (e.g. I am in the 3rd grade or I am Princeton Tiger) or describe one of your hobbies (e.g. I am a hunter, I am a quilter).
In the gospel, the religious leaders ask John the Baptizer the same question, John answers by stating that he is NOT the Christ. In essence, he says that he is not the Christ but his life points to the Christ. So you could to ask ourselves the same thing. Who are you? Does your life point to the Christ? When someone meets you could they detect any traits of Jesus?
There is a spiritual writer, named Kathleen Norris. In her best-selling book The Cloister Walk, she tells of this encounter: "Not long ago, I was asked by a college student how I could stand to go to church, how I could stand the hypocrisy of Christians.
I had one of my rare inspirations, when I know the right thing to say, and I replied, 'The only hypocrite I have to worry about on Sunday morning is myself.'"
You know, in the craziness of what is going on in our country and in the world, many of us become hypocrites because we come to church and then expect others to improve. Expect others to become more Christ-like. It doesn’t start “out there,” it starts in here [point to my chest].
Look at the sexual scandals of late. I saw a cartoon where the wife is watching TV and says to her husband, “Yet another powerful man exposed for sexual harassing!” He says, “Is it a democrat or a republican? I need to calibrate my outrage.” We all have done it. If it involves “one of them” or someone we don’t like, we say, “Good. Lock them up.” But if it involves someone we like or someone from “our side,’ we have all this sympathy and say, “Well, let’s look into this closer.”
Does your reaction point to Jesus that says, “Someone has been harmed. A violation has occurred. No matter who did it . . . it’s wrong.
Or with the issue of Pro-Life. Some folks who profess to be pro-life are really just pro-birth. Because although, that want no babies killed (correct), but are for the Death Penality, or Euthenasia, or Capitial Punishment, or not giving adequate health care to EVERYONE.” Or if someone is undocumented, we say, “Throw them back,” without looking at the awful conditions or threat to their lives in their countries of birth.
Does your reaction point to Jesus that says, “All lives are sacred. All need to be safe, and healthy; with access to clean water, food and security.”
The nature of the Eucharist is to offer us hope. Especially on this third Sunday of Advent (called Gaudete Sunday) when we celebrate specifically the hope and goodness of our faith. Are you are a hypocrite when you leave Mass and still wallow in a “poor me” attitude or do you carry with you all sorts of burdens and worries? And I don’t mean that you should take on a “whatever” attitude, but we come to share in the Eucharist so that we become better. To trust in the power of God that tells us not to fear.
Who are you? Does your life point to God . . . so that others can see you, look at your behavior, hear your words? And be reminded to have hope, not worry so much, lighten up a bit, trust that God will get you through this “thing,” it will be OK. Rejoice.
Or does your life point to sarcasm, cynicism, fear, put downs, negative about everything?
Paul told the Thessalonians in the second reading, “Rejoice always. In all circumstances give thanks. Do not quench the Spirit. Retain the things that are good. And may God make you holy.” It doesn’t say, “make you perfect.”
So your question to ponder this, If someone looks are your action, your attitude, what do they see. Do your reflect Christ. “Who are you?”