Dweller in wilderness (bleak, barren, remote)
John, the son of Elisabeth, did baptize
With Jordan's water
Those crowds who credited his foretelling, so incredible,
The imminent appearance of the prophesied Messiah.
With what wonderment and awe
Did John perceive
Within the face of Mary's eldest son—
The, until recent days, carpenter of Nazareth town,
Indeed, John's own cousin—
The inner light of the anticipated Christ!
"Suffer it to be so,"
Urged the Master of the Baptist.
And John, in humility and obedience,
Did symbolically anoint his contemporary,
The chosen one of God.
Then gentle dove appeared,
And thunderous voice (heard only by the chosen)
Did signify, "My beloved Son."
Thus loyal John his secondary role performed,
Fulfilling Scripture's sacred prophecy.
Sweet baptizer of a bygone age,
What an example for us
Here, today!
To recognize—not in some distant one,
But harder still
(Demanding total selflessness)
To know within those closest,
Among one's own dear family,
Some glimmer of the Christ.
