An Icon of Lent: St. John the Baptist

In a few days time the season of Lent will usher in. I was sitting in my study desk at home and was trying to meditate if only for some moments about Lent. Lent of course is one of the most colorful and vivid Christian season in the Philippines. Celebrated with fanfares and age old traditions. But I was trying to see a symbol of faith that would symbolize the true meaning of lent. The figure of St. John the Baptist came to my mind. A man called to proclaim the coming of the Messiah and a man of penance who called his countrymen to prepare the way of the Messiah by prayer, fasting and repentance. His words "Behold! the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world!" now immortalize in Scripture and Liturgy, symbolizes his greatness as a witness to the saving grace of God. For the Law came through Moses, but Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ. Jesus Our Lord testified to the greatness of this Saint.

"Domenico Veneziano, 1445, John casts off his normal clothes to begin his period in the wilderness"

"A man cannot receive anything, unless it be given him from heaven..." John 3:27 [Douay-Rehims Version]. The art work posted above from wikipedia, a painting of Domenico Veneziano, portrays John the Baptist renouncing his worldly clothing in exchange of a camel's hair. A symbol of penance and dedication. What moral lesson does this offer to us? This leads us again to recall the time when Adam and Eve were sent out from the Garden. God provided them with clothes. This teaches us in a symbolic manner that there is a need for us to take the teachings of God for our clothes. How tempting it is to cover our nakedness - our ignorance with our worldly ideas, philosophy, and perception. This lent calls us, like John the Baptist to shed off our clothes of pride and arrogance with the pride of humility and repentance. We shall be reminded again that we are from dust and unto dust we sahll return.

St. John the Baptist, Painting at the Baptismal Chapel on the Parish Church of Our Lady of Penafrancia, Naga City, Philippines

May this lent lead us also to medidate and include in our penances and good works the intention of the Holy Father. The past few weeks saw how many people criticize the Pope for his outstreach arms in this Pauline year to extend reconciliation to the Lefrebvrist group. The medicine of Mercy is better than the pain inflicted by the rod. But alas the secular world has totally misunderstood the gesture. For how indeed can the world accept the terms of mercy? For men would rather cast stones and brimstones to their enemies. But that is not the gospel message. The gospel calls for us to forgive and accept those that are far from us. The lifting of the excommunication of the four Bishops means that the sanction incurred during the illicit consecrations in 1988 is being lifted. It is only by doing this that an open door can be open.

Let us pray for the Bishops who do not obey the Holy Father. Let us pray for the secular media who have no symphathy and will never understand the ways of the gospel. Above all let us pray for ourselves that we too may have an open heart. Amen.