The priest at today’s Simbang Gabi Mass talked about John the Baptist’s unique role in history: in some ways, the last of the prophets, yet the first of the evangelists. I’m a fan of John, in particular the John we see near the end of his life and ministry when he tells us his joy has been made complete and thus, “He must increase; I must decrease.” (John 3:30, NAB)
The presider went on to talk of the angel Gabriel’s statement to 
Zechariah that his son, John, was being sent “to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17)
It started me wondering; are any of us truly fit for the Lord? John also tells the people that he himself is not fit to loosen the thongs of his sandals. And what about those of us who were there at the 5 a.m. Mass today? I’ll confess. I gossiped with one friend and laughed with another while I was seated in the sanctuary before the Mass began. I sang offkey. I nearly fell asleep at one point on this, day four of nine. I suspect others who were there may have committed similar offenses. Yet there we were at 5 a.m., sacrificing sleep and other niceties of First World lives.
Perhaps the key is not that we have to be fit for the Lord today, though that would certainly make the world a much better place. Perhaps, as the Baptist tells us, what is desired is repentance, a turning away from gossiping, laughing in a way that disturbs others, nodding off inappropriately and a turn toward whatever His call to us entails. Perhaps that’s what makes us fit–inching closer to obedience, even though we stumble from time to time.
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