A reflection on the coming Sunday’s gospel, John’s question, which is perennially ours; Jesus’ answer, which is ours, too

While John took on kings and their consorts, Jesus consorted with the lowly and the leprous.
While John baptized gods, Jesus cast down demons.
While John ate locusts and wild honey, Jesus took tea with tax collectors, sinners, and hypocrites – in other words, with us.
As fast as John cleared the way with his prophesy, the people littered it with palms.
John’s prison was a palace; Jesus wept in the garden.
“Is it you?” John asked from his cavernous cell, weighed down by Herod’s feasting and the emptiness of the night.
As soon as John saw Jesus, coming toward him in the Jordan, in the light filtered through his mother’s skin, in glory, he felt his heart leap and lurch.
“Tell him what you have seen,” replied his cousin, his lamb, his love; his poor, humble heart.