As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.' Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear." 

In Nelson Mandela's mind, as he tried to unite the Afrikaners and his own black people, he knew he had to bring about unity in the nation. He saw the answer in the Springboks rugby team. Calling on the captain, Francois Pienaar, without pressure although hopeful, Mandela wanted Francois to lead his team in such a way that the nation would feel a certain pride in following the team. The rugby World Cup was being held in South Africa that year of 1995, and Mandela did his best to inspire young Francois to excel to bring home the World Cup. One of the ways that he did it was by use of a poem that Mandela himself used while he was unjustly imprisoned. Entitled "Invictus" the Latin word for "Unconquered," the poem by William Ernest Henley (1849-1903) was an inspiration to Francois as he tried to follow the wishes of his president:

According to the Hebrew Scriptures, the prophet Elijah would return to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah and Jesus identifies John the Baptist to be Elijah. John the Baptist's role in salvation history was one of preparation--preparing the way for Jesus who would lead humankind back to God. Even though John and Jesus later on both felt the violence of the times, they did not let it overcome them, even though the violent seemed to take them by force. Jesus felt that John was the inspiration the Hebrew world needed to prepare for the coming of the kingdom that Jesus was to accomplish.

Human beings need inspiration because our human natures want to give up in the face of difficulty. Such inspiration can come in many forms. People receive inspiration from the wonderful universe we experience; some are inspired by the fury of a storm or the gentle swaying of a field of wheat. Nelson Mandela was inspired by the thoughts of an English poet. The poet spoke of violence, and the possibility of being conquered by the violence. But in the end, violence was unable to win because the human spirit can always rise above any conflict. As the poet led him to believe, he was the captain of his own soul, leading him to be what he had to be for himself and his country.

There are two important conclusions to these thoughts. One is the obvious one that we need inspiration to go on. Human natures are weak, and we must look beyond ourselves to find that we can be strong. We need to study the Nelson Mandelas of the world, we need to hear the words of poetry and see the lives of people who have fought the fight. There are many sources of inspiration leading us to be the captains of our own lives, no matter what life brings to us, be it violence or peace.

The second conclusion is also important. As a Christian, we become the inspiration that others need. If the Christian plan is to come to reality, it must be guided by people who have the courage of a John the Baptist, of a Nelson Mandela, of Jesus himself. That, of course, is where we come in. We must become part of the Christian plan: as others study us, they should be guided to be the leaders they can be.  

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son knew that his cousin John the Baptist could be an inspiration to the people of his time as you prepared to redeem us. Give us the grace to follow those who inspire us to do good, and the grace to be the leaders that we can be. Be with us, we pray. 

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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