In the Gospel we see John the Baptist giving witness to his mission. It is clear that he was causing something of a stir with his preaching. Because he said he was not the long-awaited Messiah, the religious leaders wanted to know who he was. He said he was not Elijah come again nor was he a Prophet like Moses. His questioners persisted. John answered them with a modified version of words from Isaiah (40:3): "I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.' John says that he is just baptising with water but there is someone far greater on the way who will baptise with the Spirit of God. Obviously, there is much in John the Baptist's role with which we can identify. John preceded Jesus in time and prepared people for his coming. We, too, are called to precede Jesus in other ways by making it possible for people to come to know him and to follow him. We are not the Light but we are called to give constant witness to the Light. Jesus said that he was the Light of the World but he also said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world" (Mt 5:14). Do I see myself as reflecting the light of Jesus to others? Am I bringing Jesus to other people?