When John the Baptist saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good that is evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”   

The man in The Calling’s song “Wherever You Will Go” is saying that he will go wherever she, the other person of the relationship, will go. The problem is that she does not necessarily want him to follow her. He sings: “Maybe I’ll find out the way to make it back someday to watch you, to guide you through the darkest of your days. Well, I hope there’s someone out there who can bring me back to you. If I could turn back time, I’ll go wherever you will go.” It is a sad song, it would seem, because he does not realize what is happening. 

In John the Baptist’s mind, the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to be baptized by him were people who had made a commitment. That commitment was both to be and to act like religious leaders of the people. He felt strongly that they were not acting like it—“Produce good that is evidence…” he shouts at them. His message to them was clear: if you say you are going to do something, mean it.
 
Making a commitment is relatively easy. Carrying it through is something else again. In The Calling’s song, “Wherever You Will Go,” the person makes a commitment. That commitment is to follow his friend wherever she will go. Their romantic life has not worked out, but he is not allowing any failure to determine what he feels he should do. He made a commitment, and he will follow through. It is probably not a good thing for his romantic life, because it seems that he should move on to another relationship, but his commitment is solid, even though his life may become very sad.

The point to be made is the commitment that he makes, and not the question of whether he should make the commitment or not. In his mind, he should make it, and according to the song, he does. It is an important fact for us. If we say that we will do something, it should mean something. Like John the Baptist reminding religious leaders, if we commit ourselves to something, we should plan on following through with the promise, even if it is difficult.       

THOUGHT
 
PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we have committed ourselves to follow you in our lives. May we truly keep the commitment, and as we make other commitments in our lives, help us to understand what we are saying. 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