On the Solemnity of All Saints, I presided at Liturgy at Guardian Angels Catholic School. The Liturgy was held in the room that serves as a lunchroom and assembly space. There was an audio system set up and powered on, but I was aware of that only because I could see the audio equipment sitting on the corner of the stage platform. The students, faculty, and parents in attendance could be forgiven for thinking there was no audio system in the room, as the system produced almost no sound at all. 

As the students were unable to hear the music, Scripture readings, and prayers, they had to find other things to occupy their time during Liturgy. The middle school students looked extremely bored, as is their wont. The students in the little grades played with their clothing and danced in place. 

A month later, I was at the school again for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. All the students were very attentive and engaged in the Liturgy. The classroom teachers and parents did not appear to struggle to hear the music, readings, and prayers. There was, however, one little boy in the front of the group who was playing with his clip-on tie; he looked like he was trying to flip his tie into his shirt pocket – something like the old-fashioned game of tossing a ball on a string into a wooden cup. 

Aside from the one little fellow lost in his own world, the students’ participation in the Liturgy was completely changed from my experience a month earlier. The difference was made by a new audio system installed in the room. All Saints split the cost of a new audio system with a generous parent. The result of the new audio system was that the students were able to hear, and participate in, the Liturgy. All those present were afforded the experience of the power of the spoken word. This Sunday’s Gospel reading intends to offer the same experience. 

In John’s Gospel, John the Baptist denies the role of being either Elijah or “the prophet.” (Jn 1:21)  There was a common belief in ancient Judaism that Elijah and/or Moses (the prophet), would return to earth as precursors of the arrival of the Messiah.  The Gospel author wanted to make a clear distinction between the ministry of John the Baptist and the ministry of Jesus.  In John’s Gospel, therefore, the Baptist is unworthy to untie the sandals of the One who announces God’s triumphant intervention in human history. (Jn 1:27) 

The Gospel author uses another metaphor to distinguish between the Baptist and Jesus.  John the Baptist describes himself as “the voice of one crying in the desert.” (Jn 1:23)  John understood his ministry as the activity of a mere human, as distinct from the One who would act on God’s behalf. (Jn 5:36)  The Gospel author wanted to emphasize that John was a human “voice” whereas Jesus is the Word of God. 

Later in the Gospel, some of John’s disciples left John’s company to associate themselves with Jesus. (Jn 1:37) These disciples were able to encounter Jesus as Messiah solely because of John’s preaching, that is, his “voice in the wilderness.” The Gospel makes a sharp distinction between John “the voice” and Jesus “the Word,” but the Gospel doesn’t devalue the power of a voice. The human voice of John does not approach the eternal value of Jesus’ preaching of God’s Word; nonetheless, “the voice” was indispensable to those who recognized Jesus as Messiah because of John’s preaching. 

The efficacy of John’s “voice” is a stark but encouraging lesson to Jesus’ disciples today. All of us are aware of our mission to spread the Gospel message. Our shared vocation is announced at Baptism, when we are instructed to be witnesses to the Gospel; it is repeated each Sunday when we are sent forth to be the presence of Christ for the world. Nonetheless, most Catholics find the prospect of giving public witness to their faith to be a daunting one. Some of this reticence is, I think, the result of a misunderstanding. 

Giving public witness to one’s faith is often understood as an action similar to streetcorner preachers in urban settings. Most people have seen this phenomenon – a very zealous person who attracts a great deal of attention by preaching a message that can vary from being slightly threatening to frighteningly cataclysmic. This sort of preaching is both a cultural icon in our country and a cultural caricature. It probably isn’t, however, an effective way of witnessing to the Gospel message. 

John the Baptist was a very effective witness to the hopeful expectation of the coming of a Savior; he was so by means of an ordinary human voice. Our effective witness to the Gospel requires nothing more. 

During this coming holiday season, you might find yourself in the company of people for whom Christmas is nothing more than a consumer activity. Would you want to share with them the true meaning of Christmas? You might find yourself in the company of relatives who have stopped practicing the Faith. Would you want to share with them the consolation you receive from being an active member of a church community? You might find yourself in the company of people who struggle with life’s burdens. Would you want to share with them the strength that comes from the Gospel? 

If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, giving public witness to your faith requires nothing more than your voice. What kind of help, encouragement, or consolation would you like to receive this Christmas season? Whatever forms those expectations take in your life, don’t miss an opportunity to share them with the people around you.