The passage for this Sunday looks at the story of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-12). He was a crabby messy man, as disconcerting as he was annoying and as blunt as he was insightful. He was rough, gruff and unkempt – a person who was unwilling to flatter and uncomfortable to be with. I can’t see John the Baptist being invited to too many Christmas drinks parties but someone like him, who challenges the yearning for stability order and niceness that grips us at Christmas, might be just what we all need.

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