MARY, OUR MOTHER

Pieter the Elder Bruegel: Sermon of St. John the Baptist
1566; Oil on Wood; Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #73

And John came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins. As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be brought low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain. And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. He said therefore to the multitudes that went forth to be baptized by him: "Ye offspring of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of penance: and do not begin to say, 'We have Abraham for our father.' For I say unto you that God is able of these stones, to raise up children to Abraham. For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire."
And the people asked him, saying: "What then shall we do?" And he answering, said to them: "He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do in like manner." And the publicans also came to be baptized and said to him: "Master, what shall we do?" But he said to them: "Do nothing more than that which is appointed you." And the soldiers also asked him, saying: "And what shall we do?" And he said to them: "Do violence to no man, neither calumniate any man; and be content with your pay." (Luke 3:3-14)

JOHN'S MISSION WAS TWOFOLD:
1. To preach penance to the Jews by word and example, and thus make them ready to receive the grace of Redemption;
2. To herald the Redeemer, and bear testimony to Him. The holy prophet fulfilled both missions most perfectly. His preaching was so persuasive that even the hard-hearted publicans and rude soldiers were moved by it. He especially pointed out:
a) The necessity of good works: "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire"; -- "He that hath two coats let him give to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do in like manner";
b) The duty of justice: "Do nothing more than that which is appointed you"; -- "Do violence to no man, neither calumniate any man; and be content with your pay."

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)