he must increase, I must decrease
As we begin summer solstice we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist. It is not the exact date of his birth, something which we cannot really know, but it is placed in summer solstice because this is the day when daylight begins to shorten, in the same way that the birth of Christ was placed in winter solstice when daylight begins to lengthen and increase. In the birth of Christ the darkness is conquered. In the birth of John the light decreases for as John has said himself Christ must increase while he John must decrease.
This is John’s personal stand and should I also say, this is his personal statement. This is how he came to know himself - a mere precursor of the messiah, one who prepared the way. This might be in conflict with how Jesus perceived him to be. For Jesus, John was the greatest prophet born of a woman. But this is how John came to know himself - he has to decrease. His greatness lies in his personal stand to decrease so as to pave the way for Christ who must increase.
We too must make our own personal statements as to how we understand ourselves and our priesthood. When I was ordained in the diaconate and in the priesthood for example I made it my choice to give away the gifts people gave to me for I believe that the priesthood is not about me. It was a personal choice in the same way that I don’t celebrate my birthday and in the same way that I very seldom celebrate my ordination. It is my own personal statement which I would not impose on others. It is my way of saying that the priesthood is not about me. My greatness and the esteem of people for me is not about me and my person, but about Jesus who gave me the priesthood. Without the priesthood of Jesus I am a nobody anyway.
I would never impose my own stand or this particular statement on you, but I would encourage you to make your own personal statement on your person and your priesthood in the future. Make your own, because it is a way of reminding yourself of who you are. So I am sorry - there would be no rector’s day in my term. It is something personal. I hope you would respect it as I have full respect for others who celebrate theirs.
This is John’s personal stand and should I also say, this is his personal statement. This is how he came to know himself - a mere precursor of the messiah, one who prepared the way. This might be in conflict with how Jesus perceived him to be. For Jesus, John was the greatest prophet born of a woman. But this is how John came to know himself - he has to decrease. His greatness lies in his personal stand to decrease so as to pave the way for Christ who must increase.
We too must make our own personal statements as to how we understand ourselves and our priesthood. When I was ordained in the diaconate and in the priesthood for example I made it my choice to give away the gifts people gave to me for I believe that the priesthood is not about me. It was a personal choice in the same way that I don’t celebrate my birthday and in the same way that I very seldom celebrate my ordination. It is my own personal statement which I would not impose on others. It is my way of saying that the priesthood is not about me. My greatness and the esteem of people for me is not about me and my person, but about Jesus who gave me the priesthood. Without the priesthood of Jesus I am a nobody anyway.
I would never impose my own stand or this particular statement on you, but I would encourage you to make your own personal statement on your person and your priesthood in the future. Make your own, because it is a way of reminding yourself of who you are. So I am sorry - there would be no rector’s day in my term. It is something personal. I hope you would respect it as I have full respect for others who celebrate theirs.
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