4th Sunday of Advent December 23, 2024 John the Baptizer Symbol=Shell
John, the new Elijah, preached a baptism of repentance and care for others. He baptized Jesus. John was jailed and beheaded by Herod. Herod didn’t like being reminded of his wicked deeds by John. Who of us really wants a mirror held up to us showing us our failures? Having a John-like person in our lives is a good thing. It’s like having a free press to keep the powerful, and us in line. What we must do is listen and change. What we must not do is kill the messenger. Question: Do I take correction when offered by a trusted person? Do I offer constructive criticism lovingly? Luke 7:28-30