Is. 61:1-2a, 10-11; 1
Thess. 5:16-24; Jn. 1:6-8, 19-28
Socrate’s close friend Chaerephon once consulted God
at the Oracle of Delphi and asked, “Is there any person in the world who is
smarter than Socrates?”
God answers: No man is wiser than Socrates.
Chaerephon happily informed Socrates of God’s
answer. But to Chaerephon’s surprise, Socrates was mystified and even felt
uncomfortable. Socrates did not believe that he was the wisest or the most
intelligent person in the world. To disprove God’s conclusion, he decided to
look for a person with more wisdom and a better standing than himself.
Firstly, he found a politician. The politician had
a very high opinion of his own knowledge and talked non-stop with Socrates.
Socrates saw the politician’s self-righteousness and unawareness. He thought,
“This person knows nothing about compassion and has no higher learning, yet, he
thinks that he knows everything. At least I recognize that I am ignorant; so it
seems that I may be wiser than him.”
Socrates was not satisfied, so he continued with
his pursuit. He found a poet. This poet was a genius at writing poems, though
he thought that he was the wisest man alive, simply because he could write
poems.
The next person Socrates met with was a craftsman.
To his dismay, the craftsman made the same mistake as did the poet and the
politician. He too thought that he was greater than others and above reproach,
because he had some good skills.
Socrates thought, that it was ignorance and pride that eroded the intelligence of these three persons.
Finally, Socrates came to an understanding to the
true meaning of the words God had spoken to Chaerephon. He was aware of his own
ignorance. “True Knowledge Is Knowledge of Oneself”. Said, Swami
Vivekananda. Today’s Gospel gives the Picture of a man who knew well who
he was.
When John the Baptist began his ministry, a
deputation came to interview him. The deputation was composed of two kinds of
people - priests and the Levites. Their interest was natural. The priests
wanted to know that John was the son of a priest, therefore, why he was
behaving in such an unusual manner. Second, there were emissaries of the
Sanhedrin. John was a preacher to whom the people were flocking in
hordes. The Sanhedrin may well have felt it their duty to check up on this
man in case he was a false prophet.
They asked him three questions: Firstly, they asked
him if he was the Messiah. Then they asked him if he was Elijah. Then they
asked him if he was the expected and promised prophet. When they found
that John’s answer was ”no”, they asked him the most difficult question: “Who
are you?”
Throughout human history, only a handful of people
were able to find an answer to that question. We call them “the super
achievers”. Only they knew what to reach for. They knew where to place
themselves. John the Baptist was one among them. He was very clear about
his role.
We seldom know what gifts we are endowed with. We
will have to learn where we belong, what we have to learn to get the full benefit
from our strengths, where our weaknesses lie, what our values are. So, it is
fundamental to know oneself. Where do we come from? Where are we going? What is
the objective of existence? Why do we live? What do we live for?
Lemuria was an ancient civilization which existed
prior to and during the time of Atlantis. Physically, it is believed that
Lemuria existed largely in the Southern Pacific, between North America and
Asia/Australia. The people of Lemuria used to see the world as it really is. They knew
that this world has nine dimensions. They used to see the world in its
multi-dimensional form. In the fire they used to perceive the Salamanders or
creatures of fire; in the water they were able see the Undines, or creatures of
water; in the air they would perceive the Sylphs, and in the element earth they
could perceive the Gnomes. When they would lift up their eyes towards the
infinite they could perceive other planetary humanities. The planets of space
were visible to them in a distinct way as they could see the aura of the planet
plus its planetary genii (angel).
Unfortunately though, when the human Essence was bottled up within all
of those "I's," or psychological aggregates that form the
"myself," or the ego, then the Consciousness fell asleep. Now, we l
carry on with our Consciousness asleep, embottled within all these
"I's" we carry inside. So the wise men always advised to
discover the self. “Oracle of Delphi” says:
"My advice to you, whoever you may be,
Oh, you who desire to explore the Mysteries of Nature;
if you do not discover within yourself that which you seek,
neither will you find it without.
If you ignore the excellence of your own house,
how can you aspire to find excellence elsewhere?
Within you is hidden the treasure of treasures.
Oh Man! Know thyself, and you will know the universe and the Gods".
Oh, you who desire to explore the Mysteries of Nature;
if you do not discover within yourself that which you seek,
neither will you find it without.
If you ignore the excellence of your own house,
how can you aspire to find excellence elsewhere?
Within you is hidden the treasure of treasures.
Oh Man! Know thyself, and you will know the universe and the Gods".
The replies that John gave to the deputation that
came to interview him shows that he was a man who knew himself. Therefore,
he was profoundly humble. He pointed to Jesus and declared: “I am not fit to
undo his sandal strap.” Undoing the straps of someone’s sandal was
the work of slaves towards their masters. At the sight of Jesus John
realized not just his littleness, but his nothingness.
John was different from us all who try at all
times to appear more than what we are. So, the season of Advent invites
us to reflect on the following three questions:
·
What do I
think of myself…?
·
What do
people think that I am…?
·
What does
God think about me…..?