Readings for January 12 Following Epiphany[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 John 5:14-21
The concluding passage of St. John’s first letter begins by expressing the faith Christians have in prayers being heard. It moves immediately into the response of the community to those who have sinned but not deadly sins (given the main purpose of this letter, this probably refers to apostasy as a result of false teachers). In summarizing the themes St. John has dealt with in the letter, a contrast is drawn between the members of the community of faith (those “begotten by God”) and the secular world belonging to the Evil One. Those who are faithful to Jesus find eternal life in him. It ends rather awkwardly with one last exhortation to be on guard against idols, almost an afterthought.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 John 5:14-21
The concluding passage of St. John’s first letter begins by expressing the faith Christians have in prayers being heard. It moves immediately into the response of the community to those who have sinned but not deadly sins (given the main purpose of this letter, this probably refers to apostasy as a result of false teachers). In summarizing the themes St. John has dealt with in the letter, a contrast is drawn between the members of the community of faith (those “begotten by God”) and the secular world belonging to the Evil One. Those who are faithful to Jesus find eternal life in him. It ends rather awkwardly with one last exhortation to be on guard against idols, almost an afterthought.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Psalm 149 is a communal song of praise, rejoicing in God’s kingship and inviting the faithful to celebrate his saving works. We rejoice because God brings victory to the lowly and hope to the oppressed.
Gospel John 3:22-30
It seems, in this passage from St. John’s Gospel, that Jesus is personally Baptizing those who are coming to him. We learn later, in John 4:2 that it is just his disciples who are doing this. This section has only one purpose placed here and that is to mark the end of the mission of St. John the Baptist and the ascendancy of Christ (“He must increase; I must decrease.”) In St. John’s Gospel this is the end of the beginning.
Reflection:
“He must increase”. With these words St. John fulfills his mission. He hands off the revelatory plan to his Savior. The story painted here is one familiar to those who work in ministry. At some point a person will impinge upon a ministry established or headed up by another person or group. Even though, God knows, there is need for every pair of able hands to accomplish God’s work, people get jealous or protective. Their territory is being invaded by others, just as in the Gospel story.
We hear that, following his baptism, Jesus was preaching and his disciples, probably because some of them had initially been St. John the Baptist’s disciples, were setting up their own ministry of baptism. According to St. John’s Gospel, this was decreasing the attendance of St. John the Baptist’s crowds and at least one (some ancient texts say Jews indicating a group) “…a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings”. We can almost hear the words of this dispute can’t we.
Psalm 149 is a communal song of praise, rejoicing in God’s kingship and inviting the faithful to celebrate his saving works. We rejoice because God brings victory to the lowly and hope to the oppressed.
Gospel John 3:22-30
It seems, in this passage from St. John’s Gospel, that Jesus is personally Baptizing those who are coming to him. We learn later, in John 4:2 that it is just his disciples who are doing this. This section has only one purpose placed here and that is to mark the end of the mission of St. John the Baptist and the ascendancy of Christ (“He must increase; I must decrease.”) In St. John’s Gospel this is the end of the beginning.
Reflection:
“He must increase”. With these words St. John fulfills his mission. He hands off the revelatory plan to his Savior. The story painted here is one familiar to those who work in ministry. At some point a person will impinge upon a ministry established or headed up by another person or group. Even though, God knows, there is need for every pair of able hands to accomplish God’s work, people get jealous or protective. Their territory is being invaded by others, just as in the Gospel story.
We hear that, following his baptism, Jesus was preaching and his disciples, probably because some of them had initially been St. John the Baptist’s disciples, were setting up their own ministry of baptism. According to St. John’s Gospel, this was decreasing the attendance of St. John the Baptist’s crowds and at least one (some ancient texts say Jews indicating a group) “…a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings”. We can almost hear the words of this dispute can’t we.
(Jew) “Hey, did you know that the Messiah, the one your master testified was greater than he is, is across the river over in Judea. His disciples are baptizing too and you should see the crowds coming to him.”
(St. John the Baptist’s Disciples) “Really! Well you know they stole that idea from us. Our master was the prophet sent by God to call people back to the law. As a matter of fact, Andrew, one of Jesus’ disciples, used to be one of our teacher’s disciples.”
Not happy about the exchange they come to St. John the Baptist. “Teacher, did you know that the guy you said was the one who was coming after you, you know, the one you said you weren’t worthy to unfasten his sandals, has started doing the same thing we are?”
It sounds almost like some Parish Council meetings. We take a lesson from St. John himself. Using the analogy of the Best Man and the Bridegroom he describes the relationship. “…the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.” He then says the words that should be engraved on the hearts of all those who minister in the name of Jesus “He must increase; I must decrease.”
It is the Lord we are to bring to those with whom we have contact. It is the Savior of the world we introduce them to and it is Him alone whom they should adore. If we stand in the way saying “How good am I?” or “How noble of me to have brought you to Jesus,” whose praise are we expecting? It is the Lord who must increase, not the messenger. St. John the Baptist recognized that truth and passes it on to us.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “Baptism of the People” by Andrea Del Sarto, 1515-17
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