We are not worthy

"I am not worthy
to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals."

So says John the Baptist in the Gospel for the Baptism of the Lord (Mark 1:7-11) celebrated today in many places.

It is a sentiment that is alien to the modern ear.

Egalitarianism teaches that each of us is as good as anyone else: no one is more worthy and no one is less.

Furthermore, modern science and technology tease us with the idea that nothing is really beyond the grasp of human intellect and power: all we need is time and funding.

Reality, of course, teaches us otherwise: we are very small, fragile beings in an expanding universe that will eventually destroy us.

As individuals and as a species, we cannot even guarantee tomorrow.

We have not the power. We are not worthy.

But Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word, through whom all things were made, said to John the Baptist, "Let it be so" (Matthew 3:15) and made John worthy.

So also does that same Lord and Savior Jesus Christ make us – insignificant, ineffectual particles of cosmic dust – worthy: worthy even to be called children of God.

We are not worthy, but Christ makes us so.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, be merciful to me – a sinner.