Jesus speaks today of John the Baptist and of his great qualities. A man who spoke the truth without fear or favour, who did not play to the gallery. A man who lived with just the necessities of life and devoted his life to speaking of how God was to be found in people's lives.

A prophet in the sense of someone who has a deeper insight into the way people should live their lives. Even more, his mission was to prepare people for the coming of Jesus, the Son of God and their Saviour. Among the long line of prophets his was a unique privilege. "I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John." And yet, says Jesus, "he who is the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." Jesus is the one who inaugurates the Reign of God among us in his own person and in all those who accept His Word as their way of life. This was a privilege that John was never to know. We have blessings through Jesus which John never experienced. But how are we using this privilege? We can ask ourselves that when people look at us: Do they see a reed shaking and bending with every breeze of fashion? Do they see people who set great store by status, luxury and an obsession with the material things of this world? Or do they see people who fearlessly and consistently proclaim the Way of Christ in all they say and do?