Third Sunday of Advent - December 17, 2017

Homily for December 17, 2017

Third Sunday of Advent

What’s His Name?

            When I was growing up in Maryland, there would be a man who we would sometimes see walking by the side of the road or in church. He wore robes and sandals and carried a bible. He would often come to church and worship with us but the strange thing is that he had no name. He was not a homeless vagrant, but rather a man who wanted to live radically for the Lord, so whenever we would ask him his name, he would say, “Just call me ‘What’s His Name’.” He never told us his real name, because he figured it wasn’t important – he didn’t want to be the center of attention. He just wanted to point the way to Jesus.

            John the Baptist is similarly evasive when people ask about him. Who are you, they wonder? Elijah? The Christ? The prophet? “The Prophet” refers to what Moses tells the Israelites in Deuteronomy – that God will raise up a prophet like Moses who will speak with Moses’ authority. They then ask, “Well, who are you?” And his answer only points the way to Jesus – John exists only to “prepare the way for the Lord.” His entire identity is for making known Jesus’ identity.

            Who are you? Who do you introduce yourself to be? Often we find identity in our professions – I’m a firefighter, I’m a lawyer, I’m a cop. Sometimes we find identity in who our friends think we are – I’m the funny one, the athletic one, the well-read smart one. Sometimes we find identity in other things – our bank accounts, the new shoes we have.

            Is that how God thinks of you? Does He think you’re the funny accountant with the great car? Or is He interested in something more intrinsic?

            Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Divine Trinity, took on flesh so that we could become adopted sons and daughters of God. God became human so that human beings could be filled with God’s divine life in grace.

            Our deepest identity, then, is not what we do or what we have, but who we are and who we are becoming. Who are we? Sons and daughters of God, princes and princesses of the King of Heaven and Earth, souls created for an eternal destiny with Him in Heaven.

            The truth is, if we live for any other identity we will end up empty. Our identity must be who we are as new creations in Christ. Any other identity will come to an end! If we find our identity in our job, we will someday retire. If we find our identity in who we are with our friends, then who are we when we are alone? If we find our identity in our possessions or money, those things cannot last forever!

            I remember reading an interview with Cal Ripken, the great Hall of Fame shortstop for the Orioles. He was planning to retire after the 2001 season and he was saying to the reporter, “Every year since I was five years old, I always looked forward to next season, next season…and now there is no next season…” He was clearly saddened about retirement as anyone would be who loves their job, but is it also possible that he had embraced his identity as a baseball player too closely? When that comes to an end – when all of our false identities come to an end – what is left?

            Jesus.

            Our identity in Christ remains. This is the one thing we can cling to that will never change. You are His. You belong to Him. You are His disciple.

            When they asked John the Baptist who he was, he simply pointed to Christ. May we do the same.