Jim Van Vurst, OFM

Those who are defenseless and without recourse to society’s justice seem to count for nothing. In our own nation we can’t help but see individuals who are counted to be of little value. In reality they are our brothers and sisters.

John the Baptist’s role was to prepare the people for the long-awaited Messiah. Jesus would come to John for baptism at the beginning of his ministry, and John would urge his listeners to repent and respond to Jesus’ words.

Much of society emphasizes external appearance whether in clothing, the car one drives or the choice of food they eat. All of that says nothing about who the real person is within himself. And that is ultimately what God judges–the heart and intentions rather than externals and appearance.

Jesus is the Father’s perfect image of a shepherd who actually laid down his life for his sheep. A person’s true value rests not on any external thing, but on his or her realizing that God made us all in his image and likeness.