Carmelite homily for Sunday, December 15, 2019 – Lectionary 007 (Third Sunday of Advent)
In today’s Gospel we have John the Baptist, who the early Carmelites said was a Carmelite, a member of the Order, because he’s dressed like Elijah – camel’s hair, leather belt. But what does it really mean to be a Carmelite? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? Because that’s what John the Baptist is asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to look for another?” And Jesus describes what he is doing. That’s what it means to be a follower. Saint Teresa of Avila writes, “Being a friar doesn’t consist in the habit – I mean wearing it – but in enjoying the state of higher perfection, which is what it means to be a true friar.” That’s what Jesus is asking of John: are you a true friar? That’s what Jesus is asking of us: are you a true friar? Higher perfection, doing the works of Jesus, living in love.