By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
Sister Stefanie’s Advent Scripture Study continues today. Read the 3rd Sunday readings and ponder them. Feel free to comment here, or – if you’d rather have a private conversation – email her at smacdonald@smmsisters.org. She’ll get back to you right away!
In Sunday’s gospel we hear the priests and Levites ask John the Baptist, “Who are you?” Hmmm. Who would you say YOU are?
I would say I am a Catholic Sister and a teacher. My vocation and ministry as both have been huge parts of my identity. Since I’ve been a teacher longer, I tend to answer with that descriptor first.
For many of us, our identity is wrapped up in our jobs. That makes sense, as it is there that we express ourselves as children of God in the world and with one another.
Yet, a part of me wants to reply differently. I want to say, “I’m a follower of Jesus.” Even though I might sound crazy, shouldn’t we reflect Jesus’ image in all we do? Shouldn’t we share that with the world?
Later in the readings, we are told to “rejoice always.” Surely that’s a reminder to be a follower of Jesus, reflecting his image, sharing his joy.
As Pope Francis says, “It is by God’s mercy that we are saved. May we never tire of spreading this joyful message to the world.”
So, when someone asks you who you are or what you do, how do you answer it? How are you tempted to answer it?
monasterywisdomvocationblog.smmsisters.org 
John the Baptist is asked this question in today’s reading. Instead of telling us who he is, John tells us who he most definitely is not: the Messiah. Whether or not he actually answered the question is debatable. But one thing is for sure—John is comfortable with who he is.
Who am I? That is an excellent question! An excellent question deserves an excellent answer. Unfortunately, I don’t have one. Like John’s answer, mine is probably is bit disappointing. I want to be the person God wants me to be but I don’t know who that person is, what she will look like, or what she will do. The real challenge, though, is being comfortable with who I am (not).
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Julie,
It can be a challenge at times to be comfortable with who we are and who we are meant to be! We all have days where we are more comfortable in our own skin than others. 🙂
Praying, and listening, and trusting that God – and those people that God sends into our lives – will help us discover who we are is key. And remember, God knows who we are even when we don’t … and God loves us even when we struggle with that, too! ❤
Sister Stefanie
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