1. Baptizer is stupid. Drop it. His title is “the Baptist.” We speak English. It is time to embrace our linguistic heritage.
2. Our Lord promises that faith like a mustard seed can tell a mountain to go jump into the sea and it will. For years I pondered if this were a hyperbole. It is a strange promise: a miracle never performed and seemingly without reason. Why would we ask mountains to jump into the sea. My friend David Fleming set me straight. It is a metaphor. The mountains that faith sends off to the beach are the mountains the Baptist cuts low, i.e., pride, etc. The Baptist prepares the way of the Lord in the hearts of men. He stands in the wilderness to embody the metaphor. The hearts of men are wild, chaotic. He comes as Elijah to re-order them, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, etc. He does this through preaching. Men are prepared through the ear. This ties nicely to the Collect where we ask for the visitation of Our Lord to lighten the darkness of our hearts.
3. The fields are white with reeds shaken by the wind, vain preachers seeking soft clothing and places in king’s house by scratching the itchy ears of men. They are less than prophets. They are less than heretics. They are hirelings not of the people but of the devil. This is a warning to preachers. Beware popularity. The Word of God is antagonistic to sinners. The Church Militant is the fighting church and the love of each other by which She manifests itself in zeal.
4. Who was doubting, the Baptist or his apostles? More and more I think it was the Baptist. On this side of glory, faith and doubt coexist in the Christian. The Baptist is not a reed shaken by the wind. He abides in a king’s house but in the dungeon. He knows his martyrdom is immanent. He has in no way given up the Faith. And it is faith that seeks comfort and an answer from the Lord, not doubt. It is faith that desires to hear the promises and which knows where to find them. Certainly this is good for John’s disciples, as it is for us to listen in onm, but what comfort it must have brough to John in prison. “You are decreasing, cousin. I am increasing. You are to die. But do not be afraid. Look: the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, and the Gospel is preached to the poor. The work of preparation is done. The path is straight and level. I set my face for Jerusalem and I will see you in heaven. And there you can lay down your burdens, set aside your fierce diet and rough clothing, and simply be a member of the household without duties who basks in the joy of my grace.” Least in the kingdom of heaven is not a bad thing.