⁷ As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’

¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵ Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Dear God, regarding the historical reference Jesus makes to John in verse 10, here is a chunk of that passage around the one verse Jesus uses in Malachi 3:

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.

² But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. ³ He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, ⁴ and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.”

I am surprised that Jesus didn’t add more of the passage than he did. Who know? Maybe he did and Matthew didn’t record it. Or perhaps he left it implied so that it would be something the Pharisees would get but maybe the rest of the crowd wouldn’t. It could have been a backhanded insult to the Pharisees while he was exemplifying John.

When I think about Pharisees who were, indeed, refined and made into pure gold and silver, I think of Nicodemus and Joseph Arimathea. I think what made them different is that they were willing to have their hearts purified. They were open to being challenged and accepting the idea that they were wrong.

That has been one of the more interesting, and difficult, parts of exploring Catholicism for me. When I entered into the RCIA class I really did do it with an open mind—or as open as I am capable of making my mind. I looked to see if there were some changes in my theology that I needed to make. And I have, indeed, made a few. For example. I am willing to accept the idea of Mary, along with the other saints, praying for me. Sure. Why not? But there are still some concepts that have really challenged my own beliefs, and I’m just not quite ready to embrace them yet. Not embracing them will prevent me from “converting”, but is that a problem? No. In the end, I don’t want this to be about “converting” to Catholicism, but about simply refining and purifying my faith into something that will continually draw me deeper into you.

Father, help me to see you clearly. Help me to embrace you as wholly as I can. Love others through me. Love my wife through me. Love my children through me. Use me in the lives of others so that you might be glorified in both my life and their lives. As I am with my extended family this afternoon, love them through me. Give them a sense of you through me.