I am what I am

One of my favorite classic cartoons is Popeye the Sailor Man. Many sociologists and culture scholars consider Popeye a precursor to the many super heroes of paper comic books, radio, television, and action movies. One of his catchphrases is “I yam what I yam, and that’s all what I yam,” which is a bold and freeing expression of who his is.

• This individualism flies in the face of who others want us to be.
• This individualism flies in the face of expectations others place on us.
• This individualism is a gift from God, who made us uniquely who we are and universally in God’s own image.

In our Gospel reading from John, we hear about another John, the cousin of Jesus, the one who prepares the way of the Lord, the one who baptized with water in preparation for the One for whom we wait. 

• John the Baptist was given a magnetic personality and powerful message by God.
• John the Baptist was given a role to be both a witness to, and to testify to the light.
• John the Baptist was given a task that was rather confusing for those around him,
  • people who longed for a Messiah to save them,
  • people who wanted John to be more than who he was made by God to be,
  • people who placed expectations that exceeded the role and message that God had given to him.

John the Baptist, like Popeye, was a precursor to something, someone bigger, with a boldness and power that would exceed their own. John the Baptist, like Popeye, was portrayed as blunt, bold and brash. And John the Baptist, like Popeye, was portrayed standing up to, challenging and upsetting those in authority.

While John had an important role, it was a supporting, preparatory one. John, like Popeye says is “I yam what I yam, and that’s all what I yam,” an Advent message for us all.

• John knew who he was.
• John knew he was uniquely made by God for a unique role.
• John knew that he was also, a child of God like those he shared the good news of the coming light of the world with.

A message for all who wait for the Messiah, each of them and you and I too, universally and lovingly made in the image of God.

In his defining himself, John the Baptist points to the Messiah. A Messiah that the people were trying to imagine, conjure up, longing so hard for, that they projected the role on people like John (much like we do when we seek presidential candidates). We who wait for the Lord, the Light, the One to come and save us, also try to imagine and conjure up who and what the Messiah will be like… what are you looking for in the Messiah, for what kind of Jesus do you wait?

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