John the Baptist is an interesting figure. He is at once frightening and compelling. Frightening certainly in his appearance. He must have been quite a sight with his disheveled locks, camel hair shirt. His diet was a bit odd as well, although I suppose honey-covered locusts could be tasty given enough hunger.
He was compelling in that people may have recognized in him the figure described in Isaiah, as the voice that “cries out: in the wilderness make straight the way of the Lord!” (Is. 40:3). It’s important to remember that there was great expectation in the land in those days of the coming of the Messiah. People had their “Messiah goggles” on. They were primed. They also knew their scripture well enough to recognize John for what he was. The herald of the Messiah who called people to repentance before he arrived to deliver them from oppression.
In a way, it is not all that different for us today. Since March we have been living under the specter of the corona virus. It has altered almost every aspect of life and brought fear and uncertainty in its wake. Now, as it seems to be at its worst, the prophet Fauci has heralded salvation in the advent of not one, but three effective vaccines. (Incidentally, all of which are morally acceptable for Catholics to receive.) Once again, all the people are filled with great expectation. Salvation, and perhaps a return to normalcy, is at hand.
I guess my point is this. The coming of one or more vaccines and salvation from the current pandemic is nothing compared to the coming of Christ in glory at the end of the age. As excited as we might be for a vaccine, we should be filled with even greater expectation for when Christ returns with salvation for his people and the renewal of all creation. What need have we of vaccines then?
We await relief from the pandemic. We await even more the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ.