Luke Pearson

Dear Friends,

One of my favorite songs is “A Change is Gonna Come”, by Sam Cooke. The song was released in 1964, and was written during the height of the Civil Rights movement. The lyrics invoke Cooke's struggle for racial reconciliation, and has become an anthem of universal hope. There is a section near the end of the song that has always moved me. The lyrics are as follows:

“Then I go to my brother 

And I say, brother, help me please 

But he winds up, knockin' me 

Back down on my knees 

Oh, there been times that I thought 

I couldn’t last for long

But now I think I’m able, to carry on.”

In this morning’s Daily Gospel, John the Baptist is questioned by the Levites and priests of Jerusalem. They ask him a simple question, “Who are you?” Since John is baptizing others across the Jordan, they were expecting him to say that he was the prophet, Elijah, or even the Messiah. John clearly tells them that he is none of these individuals. He identifies himself as, “…the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” Finally, John tells of Jesus’s arrival, and that his coming will bring about a new hope for the world.

The way that John the Baptist identifies himself is profound and radically self aware. He could have told the priests and Levites of Jerusalem his name and possibly given them a full description of his life story. Instead, he provides them with a deeper truth about himself. He is merely a voice crying out to God to lead him through the wilderness of this life. A voice echoing the pleas of Israels’ deliverance. By John identifying as this voice he identifies with every person who seeks God’s grace, and therefore the world at large.

Although, we are not prophets, and we are certainly not the one’s chosen to save the world, we are cherished voices. Each one of us has the voice to cry out for love, hope, grace and reconciliation. When we identify as someone who cries out in the wilderness, we recognize that we are not alone. There are others that cry out as well, and we as people of faith must remember to listen for those other voices.

My friends, you are known to God. You are loved by God. You are important to God. If you have been knocked down, cry out. If you feel your faith begin to fade, plead for God’s help. If you are struggling or in pain, know that you are able to carry on with Christ by your side. 

Best,

Luke