2 January, 2022 Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

 Gospel: Jn 1:19-28

This is the testimony of John. 

When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him

to ask him, “Who are you?”

He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted,

“I am not the Christ.” 

So they asked him,

“What are you then? Are you Elijah?” 

And he said, “I am not.” 

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.” 

So they said to him,

“Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? 

What do you have to say for yourself?”

He said:

“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,

‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’

as Isaiah the prophet said.” 

Some Pharisees were also sent. 

They asked him,

“Why then do you baptize

if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” 

John answered them,

“I baptize with water;

but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,

the one who is coming after me,

whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” 

This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,

where John was baptizing.

Reflections: 

In today’s gospel, John the Baptist deflects attention from himself onto Christ. John teaches us all Christians to be likewise; to proclaim Christ and His glory, not our own. John was so clear with his identity in relation to Christ and totally focused that neither praise nor criticism would affect what he is and what he does. How do we react when our credibility is questioned?  What is our idea of an achiever? How quick are we to label someone based on our limited observances of external behaviours or actions? But do we even try to fathom the mystery of our own Person? 

Action Plan: 

In silence, ponder over your own identity in Christ which is neither determined by what position you hold, nor  what you do or not do in life.