Every morning during the school year, I get to drive my son and a few neighbor kids to school. And every morning at the beginning of the year, I hear arguments about who is going to get into the car first. Our vehicle has two doors, as most vehicles do, but they all want to go in the same door without someone climbing over them. After multiple attempts on my part to bring common sense to the situation, I decided to let them figure it out on their own.

I’m not sure if you can relate, but I remember living that way, always wanting to be first. Wanting to make sure I got what I needed and then leaving the scraps to those who came after me. Looking back, this was a very childish and difficult way to live, always keeping records of who got what and when. Yet our society tells us this is how we are supposed to judge where we stand, and if we do not speak up for ourselves, we will never get what we want or need.

I admit that at times this can be true, and we do need to speak up and make sure we are not being doormats for others to wipe their feet on. But in today’s reading, we see someone else going first and preparing the way for the Messiah to come. In the relationship between Jesus and John, I think we can see some virtue in letting others go first …

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” (Matthew 3:3).

In verse 3, we see Matthew refer to Isaiah 40:3, which is a verse that all four Gospels (Mark 1:2, Luke 3:4, John 1:23) call back to with John the Baptist. Originally, this verse in Isaiah regarded the return of the people of Israel to their homeland, but the writers of the Gospels expanded this vision to show that this was ultimately meant for the coming Messiah, Jesus.

John went first to prepare the way for the Savior of the World, declaring that the kingdom of heaven was near and baptizing people after they confessed their sins. He was helping soften the people’s hearts to hear the amazing message of love and forgiveness of Jesus. John was clearing the way for Jesus to come and start his ministry while bringing God’s kingdom to earth.

We are called to do the same—to declare who Jesus is to all people, allowing God to work through us to soften people’s hearts and spread the message of Christ. This might be through a simple invite to church or a statement of “I’m praying for you.”

Reflection:

  • In what areas of your life do you still feel the need to “go first,” and how might that mindset affect your relationships with others and with God?
  • John the Baptist found purpose in preparing the way rather than being the focus. What might it look like for you to step back so Christ can be seen more clearly through your actions or words?
  • How is God inviting you to help soften hearts—through presence, prayer, invitation, or example—and what might be holding you back from more intentionally doing so?