Greetings on this the Saturday after Epiphany
Readings: 1 John 5:14-21; Psalm 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b; John 3:22-30
Summary
The Final Witness of the Baptist.
John answered and said,
“No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.
You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ,
but that I was sent before him.
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom;
the best man, who stands and listens for him,
rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.
So this joy of mine has been made complete.
He must increase; I must decrease (Jn 3:27-30)
Life is filled with transitions. Traditions are filled with historical remnants and many vibrant current variations. This is the nature of the journey we are on.
As John’s ministry draws to a close, Jesus begins his ministry in a seamless way. Parallel efforts at first and then, as people realize the increase, drawing people to himself as they realize his baptism is with holy Spirit and water. It is easy at first to see this as a competition as John’s followers were tempted to see things. A Us v Them argument.
It’s a transition from Me and our little We to He and all of us being the We. Not a loss of identity, but a widening of it.
Reflection
Could you imagine the religious civil war John could have started? Imagine further if the social media tools were available to John and his disciples and the attitude of Us v Them? Before truth could speak we would have quite the dustup!
Personal Reflection
For myself, it is a good check point. When have I taken a Me-Us v a He-We approach?
It is far better to follow John’s example, the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. Tomorrow is the Baptism of the Lord. I choose his joy.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011026.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry