The crowds asked [John the Baptist], “What then should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah.    

As Jake Sully builds a bond with the Na'vi people in the movie "Avatar," he begins to see what kind of people they are and what he and the rest of the Americans are doing to them. He falls in love with one of the Na'vi, Neytiri, commits himself in a perpetual bond with her before their God Eywa, and in general, learns to love the Na'vi people. He has begun to see what is right, but he also understands that his profession and those who are employing him are in direct opposition to what he has chosen. He must make some decisions about what is right and proceed from there. In that light, Jake asks himself a very important question in this session: "Exactly what are you doing?" Even though we may be believers in something higher than ourselves, when we choose to do what is morally correct, many times we may want to "second guess" ourselves, even abandon what we know is right for a time, but we always must bring ourselves back to the good. We may have to accomplish it in the face of severe opposition from others who do not see things the way we do, but we must do it if we are true believers.        

John the Baptist was very straightforward in his preaching. He told people exactly what they should do. He told everyone--the crowd, tax collectors, soldiers--everyone who would listen to him. As one gets into the minds of the Baptist's hearers, one can easily guess what they were thinking--"Should I change or not" or "Why should I agree with this man?" Most of the people knew in their hearts what was right; John was merely reminding them. Once he did, of course, his hearers had to choose to follow their own consciences.

Following our consciences can be difficult at times. Even more difficult may be the process of informing our consciences. But once we have it in our minds to do what we know is right, we must move ourselves to follow through with our thinking. As can be seen with Jake Sully in the movie "Avatar," sometimes such a decision involves a total life change, and beginning another direction. 

Most probably we will not need a total change of the way we think and live in order to follow our consciences. We have already informed our consciences by learning the commandments and beatitudes of Jesus Christ, at least in a general way. What is necessary now is that we integrate those directives into our beings. In that process, we come to know what we should do even though there may be some who will disagree with us. But the believer will understand what must be done. Our consciences will direct us into action. 

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son's cousin John the Baptist reminded his listeners about what they should do, and your Son reminds us of the same thing. Give us the grace to listen to them and move ourselves to action. Be with us, we pray. 

+++++

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America