Who are you?

John 1:19-23
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 
He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" And he answered, "No." They said to him then, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 
He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." 

Homily:
The question - "Who are you?" is probably the most difficult question to answer.

John gives us some insight on how to.

Start with who you are not. At least you can be sure of who you are not and with elimination, you can arrive at who is left.

He started his answer by letting go of ego. As people experienced his words and works, they quickly equated him to a familiar and expected greatness. One that is alluring. But he confessed each time, "I am not the Christ", "I am not Elijah", "I am not the prophet".

Note that it was not a denial of who he was, but a confession of who he was not.

When he had made clear who he was not, he proclaimed who he is, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." 

"I am the voice". Not a voice, the voice. I am not proclaiming anything new, but my voice is unique.

I am the voice crying in the wilderness. It is lonely here, as it should be, because I am crying out for an old truth - 'Make straight the way of the Lord".

Stop shaping the way of the Lord to suit circumstance. His way is straight. Do not make it otherwise. No branches, shortcuts or encumbrances. Make straight the way of the Lord.

What truth is the voice within you crying out for?

It will help you answer the question - Who are you?