“And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: ‘What went you out into the desert to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? A prophet? Yea I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.’ Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is the lesser in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.’”
Because John the Baptist sent his disciples to encourage them to Jesus, but his message rang of a lack of faith, Jesus, out of love for the Baptist, affirmed his virtuousness: “A good name is better than great riches” (Proverbs 22:1). If the people were scandalized by this, thinking that maybe prison had weakened St. John’s resolve, or if he was wavering or impatient, it was not out of malice, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4), but out of ignorance: “But I obtained the mercy of God, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:13). The Lord is not harsh with those whose understanding is darkened, but with loving gentleness draws them back to the way of life: “[He] can have compassion on them that are ignorant and that err: because he himself also is compassed with infirmity” (Hebrews 5:2). He reminds them that they did not go out to see one who wavers in faith, not at peace and floundering, but a mighty rock, one whose virtue and righteousness drew people from the comfort of their cities into the wilderness of the desert: “I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment” (Proverbs 8:20), for he was filled with the true gems of life and human flourishing, not bending with circumstance, detraction, or praise, but holding to truth and virtue with a strong mind. These virtues are extolled by Jesus, that he had the fortitude not to waver with the wind, the temperance to live well, not pursuing comfort, the prudence of a prophet, and the justice of one that serves God gloriously. These riches are not sought alongside the pursuit of worldly riches: “Whose adorning let it not be the outward plaiting of the hair, or the wearing of gold, or the putting on of apparel, but the hidden man of the hear in the incorruptibility of a quiet and a meek spirit, which is rich in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:3-4), but in the ways of God’s justice: “He that followeth justice and mercy, shall find life, justice, and glory” (Proverbs 21:21). Furthermore, he was not clothed with soft garments, either literally or mystically, which is indicative of carrying an excessive gentleness that is devoid of justice: “Ye brood of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7). What great philosophers such as Socrates sought, St. John the Baptist had in full, for he was the greatest of the prophets, being graced with the dignity to carry the heavenly message of the coming of the Lord: “He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15). This was an adorning with the gifts of righteousness, indicated by the uprightness of a heaven-oriented tree: “Thy stature is like to a palm tree” (Canticle 7:7) and of truth: “Thy teeth as a flock of sheep, which come up from the washing, all with twins, and there is none barren among them” (Canticle 6:5). Amongst those of the Old Testament or great Greeks, there is no greater example than St. John the Baptist. Now, this long extolling of this great saint has been oriented to the incredible statement that he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than this, for the kingdom of heaven is the virtue of charity, the gift of love, a loving intimacy with God through Jesus that captivates the heart, thus is “the kingdom of heaven… like to a merchant seeking good pearls. Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went his way, and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46), for love is worth more than all the treasures of this world, and the Trinity offers this gift of love freely and liberally: “Freely have you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Furthermore, this shows that love is greater than a cultivation of all of the other virtues, for though these are the gems of human life, these gems are simply the adornment of the temple of the heart, “And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones” (Apocalypse 21:19), which is illuminated with love: “And the city hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it. For the glory of God hath enlightened it, and the Lamb is the lamp thereof” (Apocalypse 21:23). This is typified by the breastplate of the Levitical high priest, for his heart is guarded with these same stones, which are extolled for their beauty: “He made also a rational with embroidered work, according to the work of the ephod, of gold, violet, purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted linen, foursquare, double, of the measure of a span. And he set four rows of precious stones in it” (Exodus 39:8-10), but they are not the object of the heart, which is God: “Give therefore your hearts and your souls, to seek the Lord your God” (1 Paralipomenon 22:19). There is no true virtue without love, Theophila, and to pursue the Beloved with love’s longings: “I will seek him whom my soul loveth” (Canticle 3:2); “The Spirit himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanings” (Romans 8:26), shaped and pruned by the Church’s disciplines: “Thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the church” (1 Timothy 3:15), the invitations of Scripture: “I opened my mouth, and panted: because I longed for thy commandments” (Psalm 118:131), and loving others: “My dearest, if God hath so loved us; we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11), and by this art of love you will be a masterpiece of God’s love: “How beautiful are thy steps in shoes, O prince’s daughter!” (Canticle 7:1). Therefore, let love be your guide and commander, for there is no greater treasure than this: “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field” (Matthew 13:44), not seeking to attain love by virtue, humility, and righteousness, but obtaining these things by being loved by God and loving Him and others in return, for the water of love shows itself in the smaller rivers of goodness: “And a river went out of the place of pleasure to water paradise, which from thence is divided into four heads” (Genesis 2:10); “But above all these things have love, which is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:14).