Who Am I?

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, December 17th, 2023
​Third Sunday of Advent

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John
1.6-8, 19-28

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.

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the Prophet Isaiah said.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Who am I? 

Many days, I default to one of the identities the world places on me: daughter of Jorge and Claudia, employee of the Archdiocese, sister to my brother, volunteer to different organizations, friend to a variety of persons. The world would tell me that who I am is dependent on my circumstances. I have many identities – but not split personalities – at least I don’t think so. Yet, as a Christian, my other ways of being should be rooted in my one identity in Christ.

John the Baptist knows this. 

John is clear in this passage: “I am not the Messiah.” He gives witness to the light because he is connected to that Light. He has the light but is not the Light. This is the small but significant difference.  John knew who he was and, more importantly, who he was not. Often I wish I had his conviction. I can be wishy washy and choose the identity that benefits the situation I find myself in rather than trusting my truest identity: I am a daughter of God, sister to Jesus, friend of the Holy Spirit. If, like John, I am faced with a hostile crowd asking me who I am, what would my answer be?  

During my chaplaincy residency, a non-Catholic supervisor questioned who I was after reading a reflection I wrote, but not necessarily in the way you might think. I wrote that my actions and choices were impacted by my relationship with and identity in Christ. She wondered why I couldn’t identify simply and solely as myself. Her questions caught me off guard and raised my own doubts. Yet John the Baptist, John the writer of this Gospel, and so many other saints all testify to me the truth, beauty, and goodness of our God. We do not worship them as we worship God. We walk with them, following their footsteps – their light – as we walk with God, the Light. Through those who testified to Him we come to know God. And what I have come to know is that there is nothing else, no one else with whom we can all identify. And in identifying with God, we are acknowledging (consciously or unconsciously) that we are united with all who share that identity with us. God created me to be in relationship with Him, just as He did John and all others who have testified before me.

If I am a Christian, then I must identify myself with Christ. I cannot separate who I am from who He is because Christ lives, and moves and has His being in me. I have said yes to following Him, and as such I strive to become more and more like Him each day. Not that I get it right each day but I try. And if I don’t try, then … who am I?  

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​Aurea Sadi

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