Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

FR MICHAEL BIBLICAL IMAGERY

(Fr Michael Boakye Yeboah: Vice Rector of St Gregory Seminary, Kumasi-Ghana)

WHAT SHALL WE DO

            “What must we do”: carries the nuance of readiness for repentance. The Baptist was a man who preached with fortitude and fearlessness. Men of God in that class are either well received or persecuted because of the message they preach. We remember how the Jewish folks in Jeremiah’s day disliked him and wanted to kill him because of his prophetic messages. If I am to list the names of the martyrs who were killed because of preaching God’s Word, this space may not contain them all and I may even bore you. St. John the Baptist himself will be killed because of his fearless preaching.

            The Gospel describes how the Baptist instructed those who wanted to begin a new life. In the preceding passage he dismissed as a “brood of vipers” the self-righteous who had come to hear him solely out of curiosity. St. John was so hard on them and naturally they could have reacted angrily but I am surprised that after the Baptist had gone vehemently after the established people, groups and institutions of his day, they did not respond with rage but initiated their readiness for repentance with the message “what must we do.” The people who listened to the Baptist can be grouped into three groups: the first group represents the tax collectors; the second group represents the soldiers; and the third group can associate themselves with St John the Baptist.

            Today in Ghana, there is a lot of discussions and noise on the proposed E-levy. Taxes that have the poor and the middle-income people as the “presumed” target group are always rebelled against and those who promote them are at times labeled as “evil.” There was a similar situation in the days of St. John the Baptist. Tax collectors were seen as extortionists and evil men. Though they were disliked in society, they belonged to the elite class of the untouchables. They could have ganged up and gone after the Baptist for his message especially describing them as “you brood of vipers”; but rather they simply responded “what must we do?” The Baptist’s response to them implied sharing when one’s neighbour lacks the basic necessities of life and promoting justice in the course of collecting taxes and other dues. People in this class of life should be sensitive to the plight of the poor; and this ought to be emphasized as we prepare to celebrate Christmas. All people engaged in profit-making venture should pay attention to the above. This is the period that “villagers” who have saved for Christmas will come to the big cities to buy goodies for their children and village folks. But unfortunately, this is the same period that some “wise” cities folks want to cease the opportunity to cheat their poor folks. Please let us embrace the message of the Baptist and be just in doing business. The birth of Christ represents kindness and lovely brotherliness and so let us not do the opposite.

            The second group of people were the soldiers. A fearless preacher should always know his limit but that was not the case of St. John the Baptist. He went after the soldiers and his message nuanced something that had to do with observing limits in matters of power, something that can be difficult for military people (no theft, extortion, or pressure for more pay). In our own day especially in African cities, some police men and women are going to make a lot of money. A simple traffic offence that should call for brotherly correction will be met with opportunity to make more money for Christmas. Please officers of the law, be kind to your brothers and sisters.

            The last group is represented by the Baptist’s humble personality. People thought that he was the Messiah and wanted to hail him accordingly but he exhibited a kind of humility we all need to emulate. We are living in what I refer to as a “titled society.” There are some people who get angry and “pissed-off” if they are not called with their titles. Men of God today are having all kinds of titles. The Baptist made sure that no one confused him with the coming Messiah. Listen to the response of the Baptist when the people thought that he might be the Christ: “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals…” Can you imagine? This is a man that scripture says among those born of women, there is none greater than him (cf. Matt 11:11). Please let us learn to embrace humility as we await the birth of the man who though God humbled himself to take the form of a slave.

            If we really embrace the call for repentance with the words “what must we do”; then we can associate ourselves with the prophetic words of the prophet Zephaniah in the first reading: “Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has removed the judgment against you and he has turned away your enemies…” If this is the case, then I call on you to rejoice in the Lord always as St Paul exhorts in the second reading, for the Lord’s coming is near. Christmas is near, let us massage our hearts with happiness. But remember happiness becomes complete when it is shared. Try and make someone happy this Christmas.