Cardinal Cantalamessa: John the Baptist shows us 鈥榯he scandal of God's humility'
By Joseph Tulloch
In his first sermon for Advent 2023, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa meditated on the figure of John the Baptist, and his roles as prophet and preacher.
The Cardinal, a Franciscan friar, delivered his homily on Friday morning to the Papal Household, including Pope Francis himself.
John as prophet
A key theme of Cardinal Cantalamessa鈥檚 reflection was Jesus鈥 description of John the Baptist as 鈥渕ore than a prophet鈥.
In what sense, he asked, is this the case? 鈥淲here does the prophecy lie? The prophets announced a future salvation. But John the Baptist does not announce future salvation; he points to someone who is present.鈥
John, Cardinal Cantalamessa said, counts as 鈥渕ore than a prophet鈥 because he helped people to understand that the long-awaited Messiah was in front of them here and now.
鈥淚t is easy to believe in something grandiose, divine, when it appears in an indefinite future,鈥 the Italian friar said. 鈥淢ore difficult is when you have to say, "Now! It's here! It's this!"
John the Baptist, he suggested, helps us to understand 鈥渢he scandal of God鈥檚 humility鈥, who reveals himself 鈥渨ith such ordinary and modest appearances and origins.鈥
John as preacher
Cardinal Cantalamessa also reflected on John the Baptist鈥檚 role as a 鈥減reacher of conversion鈥.
John鈥檚 message, he said, is 鈥淩epent and thus the kingdom of God will come to you!鈥. He suggested that this stands in contrast to Jesus鈥 preaching, which has at its core the call to 鈥淩epent because the kingdom of God has come to you!".
鈥淭his,鈥 Cardinal Cantalamessa said, 鈥渋s not just a chronological difference, as between a before and an after; it is also a qualitative difference.鈥
鈥淚t means that it is not the observance of the commandments that allows the kingdom of God to come; but it is the coming of the kingdom of God that allows the observance of the commandments.鈥
John鈥檚 fervour
A final theme of Cardinal Cantalamessa鈥檚 reflection was John the Baptist鈥檚 鈥渆vangelical fervour鈥.
John, he noted, is 鈥渘o great theologian鈥, and uses 鈥渧ery simple images鈥 鈥 鈥淚 am not worthy to untie the straps of his sandals鈥, he says of Jesus.
Nevertheless, Cardinal Cantalamessa emphasized, 鈥淗ow he manages to make us feel the greatness and uniqueness of Christ!鈥
The Italian friar then brought his reflection to a close by reading aloud a prayer to John the Baptist from the Orthodox tradition:
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