“Preparation! Preparation!” our sports master used to shout, as we practiced long jump. “Measure your run-up to the board! Aim for height! Use your arms! Focus!”

 In those far-off days, the long jump finals took place at the empty and deserted sports ground six days before Sports Day.

When sports day came around, with its high dignitaries, jubilant crowds, trophies and parade of champions, the sports master’s insistent message of preparation, measure, aim and focus had already paid off; and all the crowds could see the glory of the champions.

John the Baptist too heeded such a message of preparation, aim and focus, in the emptiness of the desert, while high dignitaries ruled and High Priests pontificated. And at what a high price! For when we read between the lines of S Luke’s elegant prelude at the beginning of Chapter 3, we recognise the tragic reality of the negative response to God’s messengers and to God’s Word: John proclaimed God’s Word, but Herod imprisoned and executed him.

Pontius Pilate slaughtered the Galileans (Luke 13:1) and authorised the slaughter of Jesus, the Word-made-flesh. Herod mocked the kingship of Jesus, clothing him in a rich cloak. The High Priests rejected John’s baptism (Luke 20:5) and were even more hostile to Jesus, calling for his death.

We too are called to heed the Baptist’s cry for repentance. Funny how, in every facet of our life, preparation, measure, aim and focus seem to be watchwords, urging us to vigilance and to excellence – not without suffering! Six days before Sports Day, a champion long jumper was chosen.

Six days before the Passover, God’s Champion was anointed at Bethany! Funny how long jump – and all our life’s experiences – can become a paradigm of our response to God’s Word, filling in every valley, flattening every mountain, and smoothening and straightening the rough and winding areas of our lives, so that all may see the salvation of the Lord!

Let us pray:
Lord, we thank you for the “Sports Masters” and John the Baptists in our life – those persons who have urged us on, challenged us and pointed the way to you by their lives. May we, in our turn, help others towards you by the way we live.
Lord, we ask pardon for cluttering our lives with noise and bustle and not leaving a desert space to listen to your voice. If you should speak to us today, let us not harden our hearts.
Lord, we pray for all those who proclaim your Word, especially in violent situations. We ask you to fill them with courage and wrap around them the “rich cloak” of your love.

Gospel Meditations for December are by Bro Paschal Jordan of the Benedictine Monastery, Mora Camp, Lower Mazaruni, Guyana