Encounter with Truth; 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

The simplicity of the truth is striking.

I could say in it 2 seconds and be done with it,

But, this truth has also driven faith for over 2,000 years and it has filled millions of theology books and its story is told in scripture.

The Old Testament promises and longed for this truth –
“I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth”
 The New Testament wittiness to this truth.
"To you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who called upon the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours."
John the Baptizer, the forerunner, maker of straight ways, came to know this truth and so declares.
"A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me”
Most scriptural scholars believe Jesus was among those who were in the Baptist's circle. Surely, they knew each other as cousins would.
I image that John and Jesus spoke a great deal about God and the condition of Israel.
I also imagine that over time the relationship began to change.
Perhaps, John spoke less and listened more as Jesus began to speak with ever growing authority. I imagine, in John's head and heart, the idea began to form about his own ministry; I must dim so he can shine.
Whatever the dynamics between the two, John began to sense the one fundamental truth that all truths come from. And this awareness changed everything
This one revealed truth that John now experienced firsthand is simple and profound, transcendent and deeply human.
 Simply said - John encountered God in Jesus.
We have lately talked about epiphanies; the sudden, intuitive perceptions or insights into the hidden, but the essential meaning of something.
Religious epiphanies are human intuitive responses to God's self-communication.
Epiphanies are encounters with God.
The shepherds seeing the infant in the manger had an epiphany. The wise man upon seeing the infant had an epiphany. Simeon in the temple, holding the child Jesus, had an epiphany.
Mysteriously this truth, though active and real, remained secreted away in the hidden years of Jesus, son of Mary and the carpenter Joseph.
But, on that day, again in the presence of Jesus, who he had been with many times before, something was different
“I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me”
On that day John the Baptist had an epiphany.
And as a result of this encounter with God in Jesus, John was compelled to do the unthinkable when Jesus asked him "baptize me." He did it.
This deeply symbolic act revealed God the Father acting in the world and sending his saving presence (the Spirit seen like a dove descending) upon Jesus, his beloved son.
And most lovingly to me - the Spirit remained there.
In the light of his epiphany John the Baptist, not only knew, but had experienced the transforming truth. And in crystal like clarity John reveals the truth to the world as he points to Jesus saying -
"Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
The saving truth hidden, but now revealed, was set in motion that day in the Jordan river as Jesus' public ministry began.
 The world was now to encounter God, with us, in Jesus.
Jesus; his life, death and resurrection not only takes away the sin of the world,
it is the salvation of the world.
May we, in our own epiphanies experience that encountering and knowing Jesus is to encounter and know God.  And this is our salvation.
And in joy and gratitude may we join our voice to John's in saying -
 “I have seen and testify that Jesus is the Son of God.”