Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005
1st & 2nd Discoveries of the Honorable Head of the Forerunner
3rd Vespers 1st & 2nd Discoveries of the Head of Forerunner: Wisdom 4:7, 16-17, 19-20; 5:1-7
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 4:6-15 Gospel: St. Matthew 11:2-15
St. Matthew 11:2-15, especially vss. 2, 3: "And when John had heard in prison about the works of
Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'" The whole
life and ministry of the Forerunner prepared others to believe in Jesus as the Christ, the "Coming One," the universal,
saving Messiah foretold by the Prophets of old. Even as a babe in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth, John had
"leaped...for joy" (Lk. 1:44) at the presence of the infant Jesus in the womb of His mother, the Virgin Mary. As St.
Theophylact of Bulgaria explains: "John was more than a prophet because the other prophets only foretold Christ, while he
was an eyewitness, indeed a great thing. And the others prophesied after their birth, while he, still in his mother's womb,
recognized Christ and leapt." Later, as an adult, in his preaching and baptizing, John remained urgent to prepare all people
who would listen, knowing that the unrecognized Messiah would soon to appear to "baptize...with the Holy Spirit and fire"
(Mt. 3:11).
When Jesus actually "came...to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him...John tried to prevent Him" (Mt. 3:13),
acknowledging rather his own need to be baptized by the Lord instead. Notice carefully the words of the Lord Jesus that
moved the Forerunner to allow Christ to be baptized by him: "it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Mt. 3:14).
Observe: the Lord Jesus Christ invited John to participate in the Divine ministry of man's salvation, saying "it is fitting for
us," for you and Me together, to carry out this baptism. The whole synergy of human salvation was sustained even as Jesus
was baptized, for John's participation was sought and engaged - as the Evangelist shows us, "Then he allowed Him" (Mt.
3:15). John consistently maintained his God-given ministry of preparing men to receive and believe in Christ, for the day
after the Lord's baptism, "looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, 'Behold the Lamb of God'" (Jn. 1:36), and two of his
disciples heard him "and they followed Jesus" (Jn. 1:37).
In the present passage from the Gospel, the same cooperative commitment is evident in John. In prison, anticipating his
probable execution, the Forerunner sends yet two more disciples to Jesus with a question for them to ask, undoubtedly for
their benefit: "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" (Mt. 11:3). As St. Jerome points out: "John asks this
not because he is ignorant but to guide others who are ignorant and to say to them, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes
away the sin of the world.'" Even at the threshold of his own death, the Forerunner maintains his part in the synergy of
salvation. Concerning this final mission by the Forerunner's two disciples, St. Jerome says explicitly: "when John was
about to be killed by Herod, he sent his disciples to Christ, intending that when they met Him, the disciples would observe
His appearance and powers and believe in Him."
Beloved of the Lord, let us confess the truth in the Forerunner's ministry of preparation by sharing in it with him. In the
presence of the Virgin, whether in iconography, Holy Scripture, or in the Church's prayers, "let us commend ourselves and
each other, and all our life unto Christ our God." May our words and actions manifest lives that know Christ Jesus as the
"Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29), so that the action of His grace in our Baptism may violently
tear away whatever sin remains in us to His glory and the salvation of many. Like John, let us live in the spirit of Elijah to
reveal that all things are new!
O Forerunner of Christ, may we, with thee, glorify Christ Who bowed His head to thee sanctifying the nature of man. And
do thou implore Him to grant our souls the Great Mercy.
