Psalm 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
He Must Increase, I Must Decrease
Brethren, today we conclude our sequential reading of the First Letter of John. It is good to recall and meditate on the overall message of the three parts of the letter. The first part invites us to walk in the light of God and Jesus. Walking in the light means being honest about our failings, struggles, and sins. We need to imitate the way Christ walked, heed the new commandment to love, choose to love God rather than the world, and reject the denial of truth. In the second part of the letter, John invites us to walk in the righteousness that belongs to the children of God. In the third part of the letter, John encourages us to walk in love and seek the perfection of love. God loved us first, and when we walk in love, we are responding to the generous and total self-giving of the Father. The final message of John, which we read today, is that we need to pray for one another, for our brothers and sisters, that as the Bride of Christ, they can be victorious in the struggle to overcome sin.
We also come to the final gospel reading in this series of epiphany, and we shall end our Christmas time tomorrow as Jesus is being baptised and publicly starts his mission. Today's Gospel is appropriately the final scene in the Gospel of John of the ministry of the Baptist. Once more, it is guidance for those who are to be apostles of Jesus, showing the humility of both Jesus and John. John had the humility not to call himself a Messiah while he had all the chances to do so, and Jesus too had the humility to learn from John and quietly continue his activity, though John was just a voice pointing to the anointed Messiah. We have to learn from the humility of the two and practice it, and from John, to always point others to Jesus.
This humility of John is a great lesson, especially for us who are actively engaged in the apostolic mission of the Church. Too often when we get involved with some apostolate and another’s “ministry” seems to grow faster than ours, jealousy can set in. But the key to understanding our role in the apostolic mission of Christ’s Church is that we must seek to fulfil our role and our role alone. We must never see ourselves in competition with others within the Church. We must know when we are to act in accord with God’s will, and we must know when we are to step back and allow others to fulfil God’s will. We must do the will of God, nothing more, nothing less and nothing other. Additionally, that last statement from John must always resound within our hearts when we are called to actively engage in the apostolate. “He must increase; I must decrease.” This is an ideal model for everyone who serves Christ and others within the Church.
Brethren, in the last couple of verses we are given the reflection of John on the mission. From this, we are reminded once again that it is the coming of the bridegroom for the great wedding feast of the Lamb, the final climax and completion of history. We are reminded also that the mission is not for the glory of the apostle, not for our glory, but that the apostle must always be content to serve Jesus, seeking not personal glorification but the glory of Jesus.
As his mission drew to a close, John stepped out of the limelight so that the very one prefigured could reveal himself. In fact, he even sent his best disciples to follow Christ. “Behold the Lamb of God,” he said to John and Andrew (John 1:29). The image the Baptist chose was striking: Christ is the Bridegroom; John was just the best man—close to the groom, preparing everything for the wedding, but not the groom, the true Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. In these verses, John’s humility was on display. How edified we are to realize that the greatest man born of a woman (Matthew 11:11) was so very humble.
Not long after John preached these words, he was murdered by King Herod. But like a seed that falls to the ground and dies, he bore such great fruit that his story did not end in death. John taught us that even if living our vocation and mission in life leads through perplexing and even painful moments, God is always capable of bringing a greater light from the shadows. John had unwavering confidence in God and we, too, are called to trust God, even when the shadows in our lives obscure the light.
Reflect today on the humility and witness of John to the Messiah. Are you ready to witness Christ as John the Baptist did? As Jesus is being baptised tomorrow, let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us recollect our baptismal promises in order to be baptised anew with Jesus.
Let us Pray
Lord Jesus, your grace is real and effective, present and active in my life. I want to be receptive and open to your plan, as St. John the Baptist was. As I reflect on my life, are there any aspects today where you are inviting me to be open to grace? Open my heart. Grant me the humility to accept from you even what I don’t understand. I trust that if I keep my eyes on you and follow you, you will let your light shine through me. Amen
Be blessed
No comments:
Post a Comment