Encourage Deeper Understanding of Scripture

12-17-2017Weekly Reflection

“There is one ... coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” Untying sandalstraps was no prestigious job. In the days of John the Baptist, those straps would have been especially unpleasant to deal with. Besides the usual odors that accompany sockless leather footwear, there would have been the grime and dirt from the sandy roads and paths that swirledaround the people who went everywhere on foot. Taking off someone’s shoes upon their arrival wasthe task of the lowly servants. So when John says he’s unworthy of doing this task for the “one whois coming after me,” he is putting himself in a very humble position. And rightly so.

John realizes that the Christ—the Anointed One, the Messiah—is so far above him, so far above anyof us, that we are truly unworthy of him. Indeed, the Son of God is not just the greatest of men; he isGod-made-man and in his presence we most appropriately should bow in humble homage. Yet thisGod chose to stoop down to our human level and walk among us. He chose to get his sandals dirty.And still today he chooses to allow us to encounter him as a friend and companion.

But as John reminds us by his example, this encounter with the Lord is not the result of our ownmerits or accomplishments. We are sinners who stand in need of Christ’s help. But thanks be toGod, he is always willing to extend this help to us. As St. Paul says in today’s epistle, “May the Godof peace make you perfectly holy.” Indeed it is God who does the perfecting, not us by our ownpower. So let us approach the Lord this Advent season with a spirit of hopeful humility, trusting thatGod alone can make us worthy of welcoming his Son.