GOSPEL READING:
John 1:19-2819 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" And he answered, "No." 22 They said to him then, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, `Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" 26 John answered them, "I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." 28 This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Meditation: Do you recognize the presence of the Lord
Jesus in your life? John the Baptist did such a great job of
stirring the peoples' expectation of the Messiah's arrival, that
many thought he might be the Messiah himself, or at least the
great prophet Elijah who was expected to reappear at the Messiah's
coming (see Malachi 4:5, Deuteronomy 18:15). John had no mistaken
identity. In all humility and sincerity he said he was only a
voice bidding people to prepare the way for the coming of the
Messiah King.
John points to the Redeemer who comes to save us from sin
and death
John the Baptist bridges the Old and New Testaments. He is the
last of the Old Testament Prophets who points the way to the
Messiah. He is the first of the New Testament witnesses and
martyrs. He is the herald who prepares the way for Jesus and who
announces his mission to the people: Behold the Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of the world! John saw from a
distance what the Messiah came to accomplish - our redemption from
slavery to sin and our adoption as sons and daughters of God, our
heavenly Father. Do you recognize your identity as an adopted
child of God and a citizen of God's heavenly kingdom?
John was the greatest of the prophets, yet he lived as a humble
and faithful servant of God. He pointed others to Jesus, the
Messiah and Savior of the world. The Christian church from the
earliest of times has given John many titles which signify his
prophetic mission: Witness of the Lord, Trumpet of Heaven,
Herald of Christ, Voice of the Word, Precursor of Truth, Friend
of the Bridegroom, Crown of the Prophets, Forerunner of the
Redeemer, Preparer of Salvation, Light of the Martyrs, and
Servant of the Word. Do you point others to Jesus Christ by
the testimony of your witness and example?
The Lord reveals his presence to us through the Holy Spirit
Luke tells us that when the presence of the Lord Jesus was
revealed to Mary (Luke 1:35), and to her cousin Elizabeth (Luke
1:41), and to John the Baptist in the womb of his mother (Luke
1:15,41), and to Zechariah, John's father (Luke 1:67) - they were
all filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals to us the
presence of the Lord Jesus who comes to dwell within us. Ask the
Lord Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit and to renew in you
the gifts of faith, hope, and love, and the boldness and courage
to point others to the presence and power of the Lord Jesus.
Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and make me a herald of your word of truth and grace. Fill me with the joy of the Gospel that I may eagerly point others to you as John did through his life and testimony.
Psalm 98:1-4
1 O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
2 The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: John points to the Redeemer, by Gregory the Great (540-604 AD)
"John did not baptize with the Spirit but with water, since he
was unable to take away the sins of those being baptized. He
washed their bodies with water but not their hearts with pardon.
Why did one whose baptism did not forgive sins baptize, except
that he was observing his vocation as forerunner? He whose birth
foreshadowed greater birth, by his baptizing foreshadowed the Lord
who would truly baptize. He whose preaching made him the
forerunner of Christ, by baptizing also became his forerunner,
using a symbol of the future sacrament. With these other mysteries
he makes known the mystery of our Redeemer, declaring that he has
stood among people and not been known. The Lord appeared in a
human body: he came as God in flesh, visible in his body,
invisible in his majesty." (excerpt from FORTY
GOSPEL HOMILIES 4)
