Anne Lastman

In a religious context the Office of  “Forerunner”  refers to an appointed individual whose task it was to prepare, manage correctly and prepares the way for the arrival of high or noble person,  or event is prepared and carried out to its completion.

Office of forerunner is  a charism, an honorouble work, and notably refers to biblical figures or events and we find these throughout old and new testament writings and  through personages.  It can also announce not only the arrival of person but the birth or death of a notable person.  Of course, preparations would be different for birth, arrival of significant individual, or death .Perhaps similar to the English Town Cryer who ringing a bell calling out the news.

The office of Forerunner Involves someone who goes ahead and prepares, orders necessities, clears paths or obstructions,  contacts people, prepares place, removes all possible obstacles and clears the path for arrival of a .e.g. World President, Mr Donald Trump.  Every minutest step must be prepared to ensure that all goes well and person is safe and led with honour to the appointed place.

Another example might be the visitation of Pope Leo XVI or Pope Francis (RIP) to a country to visit the Catholic faithful and encourage them on their journey of faith and assure them that they are part of the universal church and prayed for by him.  The visit of someone like him, a spiritual leader, is prepared for not only with safety in mind, but suitable venues for meeting him, settings for faithful, that is youth one area, parents another area, all religious nearest Pope, disabled in an area where they can be seen and see the Pope.  By area it doesn’t mean separated by sections of the venue , this for ease.  There is the preparation for the Holy Father’s, travel from airport to place of stay whilst in that country and not forgetting security. There is spiritual preparation by the country’s people, schools,  dignitaries.  Preparation for Papal Mass. This of course similar for Royalty in all their events, marriages, presentations, announcements, deaths.  The organiser, that is the Forerunner  and his chosen assistants prepare for that event.   

Beginning with Old Testament we see many with Office of Forerunner. Beginning with Abel, who is forerunner for Abraham, who is forerunner for Noah, who is forerunner Moses, who is forerunner for David, who is forerunner for John Baptist, who is the forerunner for Jesus (here some of us are in conflict) I believe Jesus is forerunner for the Holy Spirit, the one promised by Jesus which He will send after He returns to His home again. All these above-mentioned
forerunners had a work to carry out leading to each new forerunner who would then prepare the people who would continue to live, be taught, carry on life, till time of next forerunner, till eventually we come to the forerunner which we in the last two millennia have lived in.  With our families, friends, rulers, governments, saints, sinners, lovers, children, modernisation, people nobility, people of light, of darkness. This in final preparation for who is to come next. 

It’s interesting that since post prehistory, office of Forerunners has existed but has remained silent.  Each beginning and preparing for a new person to arrive. At times waiting over thousands, hundreds of years, but still waiting and preparing even spiritually throughout life.

Over time , inventions, rituals, feast, identities as nations developed and some of these carried through to next generations and times who again would develop further and then pass on (we often say don’t re-invent the wheel)  to next and  new carrier of the charism.  We could also say that those who invented the wheel pass the information on with modifications  done to better the wheel but the concept has remained the same. Forerunner, announcer. Wheel template.                                              

 Indeed, the office of Forerunner is “a runner” who begins the task of preparation. Appoints the next who will assist runs,  who then hands over the baton to the next appointed runner, and so on. Its reminder of Joseph in  Old Testament who was appointment second in change (after the Pharaoh) to prepare for a prophesied famine to ensure that all people had food during the coming famine.  His task was to appoint labourers to fill granaries, distribute wheat as needed.  Forerunner does that, leads and begins the run .   It’s journeying as is humanity and its different generations, and what they do and pass on always with a belief that the “run” or “Journey”  is being prepared for a special person or special time, “the Lord is coming” lets “prepare the Way of the Lord” (Iss.40:3). Which is a call for change, to prepare, be ready for the coming (for us) of Jesus.  For the past six  millennia there was the preparation to fulfil the covenants with the final one the  arrival of Jesus, For the past two millennia and still going a preparation for the second coming as promised.  The past two millennia life, work, pray in expectation.  

Throughout each expectation of arrival, throughout time the “forerunner” continues clearing the way for liturgies, feasts, prayers, waiting and continuing the wait for the next generation.

The Advent period is a Forerunner, whose preparation is  for the “coming”  of the Lord . It’s the season of expectation, preparation, wearing change of vestment from those of ordinary time green to purple signifying penance and preparation for the arrival (incarnation) of Jesus, and this intensifies on third Sunday with rose coloured vestments symbolic of joy in the nearness of the arrival of the expected new “forerunner” Jesus. We await; there is an expectation that a momentous time is here. It’s not a sad time but a time of feasting. The end of journey has come and forerunner is here. 

Another example, the Lenten period.  A period, or walk, sombre for 40 days, echoing the 40 days of Jesus in desert, fasting in preparation for his sacrifice on the cross and  knowing that his journey was coming to an end.  This visitation was slowly completing. An end and preparation to pass on the baton to next forerunner, Holy Spirit, to teach about Jesus, to continue.  Lenten period a time including passion time, penitential time,  preparation for Easter Triduum, preparation for Good Friday and the Lord’s Passion and his final words  “Teltelestai” It is finished.   In the beginning  Jesus breaks through time, incarnates,  and at the end  he breaks  through  the rock, to destroy the barrier between man and God and then to pass the baton again for the next runner. Holy Spirit.  The forerunner again starts journey clearing the way for  the Holy Spirit and his work.

The office of “Forerunner”  Malachie 4:4-6

The Law, the prophets, Torah. Forerunner to Gospel.

Elijah  forerunner

John the Baptist  forerunner.

Malachie 3: Behold I will send my messenger

Malachi4:5,  Issaih 6: 9-13,  Matt 11:7, Matt 17:10

Throughout time the office of Forerunner always, unobtrusively, begins the new journey, appointing those who will assist in  clearing the way for the birth in time for God’s actions to be done.