It occurred to me that John the Baptist is presented as that "gateway" for Jesus — not that John ever saw himself in that role. I suspect it was a more significant day for Jesus than it was for John, Jesus being just one of the crowd who had flocked to hear him that day. Whatever happened — if anything in John’s life at that moment, that’s when Jesus felt his call to live authentically who he was, found courage to be himself. I’m not talking about Messiah stuff — that was the Church’s idea, I’m talking about Jesus finding the validation and courage to say "yes" to his own integrity. John’s idea of washing away past limitations clicked with stirrings in Jesus’ heart involving a new way to look at life, a way of living that was liberated from the old constraints of religion that evolved into following a series of rules. Jesus envisioned a way to live a full and meaningful life based on projecting the image of a loving, accepting God onto ones treatment of other people. That allowed for acceptance and forgiveness that didn’t keep score. John played such a crucial role in Jesus’ life that finally their followers teamed up in what is called "the great accommodation:" a negotiation that presented John as the final prophet, Jesus as messiah. To accent this new partnership Luke’s birth narrative even transformed their relationship into cousins — their lives intertwined by God before either was born!

So — in a way — John the Baptist is more of a model for us than Jesus. We can’t be the Messiah, but each of us can be a gateway for other people to see the Messiah, not as much by words as by example, as our lives — in attitude, behavior, and spirit — point the way to a liberated life made possible in this kingdom of love and mutual respect.

Hearing rumors of what was going on out in the wilderness, the priests and Levis from Jerusalem asked John, "who are you?" Elijah? The prophet? "No. . . just a voice crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’"

Sometimes I feel the Episcopal Church is a voice crying in the wilderness, tackling hard issues that call for integrity, peace with justice, and inclusion of all people. But at least we can do that, even when it’s not always accepted or even heard. I think we’re on the path of Jesus, and ultimately that’s all that matters.

Wareham, Massachusetts, always seemed to have a poor self image, even though it had beautiful bays and cranberry bogs, deep forests and summer cottages with the fragrance of salt air, the Tremont Nail Factory - one of America’s oldest, still banging out square-headed nails, and some magnificent homes overlooking the Atlantic that would rival many in Saratoga. It also has a lot of plain ol’ people, some not as educated or wealthy or socially "in" as those in surrounding communities. Gina Davis came from there, a close friend of my barber. But Wareham could never feel pride in itself. It was just a "gateway to somewhere else." Is that how you feel about yourself? You have all kinds of God-given talents, and skills you’ve accomplished by discipline and hard work. And don’t ever forget, being a gateway isn’t all bad. Imagine being Johann Sebastian Bach’s father or Beethoven’s mother. Not a bad legacy. Never disparage who you are. There’s a future you can’t even imagine, yet.

Like John the Baptist, you don’t have to compare yourself to somebody else in order to know your identity. As Mr. Rogers would say "You’re special — just the way you are." You may be a gateway to Jesus — and I hope you are, but there’s something solid in you, about you, too. No need to apologize, especially to yourself! You have your own unique identity, and that was always what Jesus was trying to help people see and affirm — a special person with your own roots, all those experiences - all those inner forests and bays and cranberry bogs, memories of summertime and visions of hope for the future, all the love.

I’ll never forget the time my mother flew into Providence for Christmas. When she arrived, she paused and waved to us atop of the stairway down from the plane. Across her black mouton coat was pinned a red sash with "Merry Christmas" written in gold glitter — since her visit was our Christmas present. During the car-ride home she was laughing about what had happened aboard the plane. As they were near landing she pulled out the sash from her purse and was trying to pin it on, when the stewardess came and offered to help. She giggled as she said, "They thought I was somebody!" You are somebody! - even if the world doesn’t know it. God does.

You are not "the light;" neither am I. But we can testify to the light in word and deed, especially in being who you and I uniquely are. Like John the Baptist, we are not worthy, but that’s not the point. We are called to be authentic, real. That’s what the gift of Jesus helps us do, and on this day we give thanks for the gateway who helped him step through into that new life.

"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light."