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“St John the Baptist”
by Andrea Del Sarto, c. 1523 |
For those who celebrated the Epiphany on Wednesday: Readings for January 9th
Commentary:
Reading I: 1 John 5:14-21
Commentary on 1 Jn 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.
CCC: 1 Jn 5:14 2778, 2827; 1 Jn 5:16-17 1854; 1 Jn 5:18-19 2852; 1 Jn 5:19 409; 1 Jn 5:20 217
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Commentary on Ps 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
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. The psalmist calls to the faithful to give praise in the assembly of the people – to give witness to their faith publicly – communally, as God’s chosen ones.
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Gospel: John 3:22-30
Commentary on Jn 3:22-30
In this passage from St. John’s Gospel, it appears 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 in being 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”). This is the end of the beginning of St. John’s Gospel.
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Reflection:
From the beginning of God’s plan St. John
His entire life was spent with a single purpose, to prepare the people for the coming of the Christ. From the first time we meet him as an adult, he is calling the people to reform their lives and to return to faith. It was the call to repentance that attracted large crowds and the Baptist himself gained a following, having his own disciples.
We see him in the Gospel of St. John at his zenith. He has baptized Jesus and will soon be arrested by Herod. In the first chapter of this Gospel we know the Baptist was considered as a possible incarnation of the Messiah himself. Then, as in the current passage, he points to Jesus and tells us: “You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ.” In a moment of realization, in order for Jesus to gain the prominence he must, St. John knows that his ministry must end, that it is a distraction from the light that has come into the world. In that moment, the Gospel recounts how he told his disciples (who now see themselves in competition with Jesus and his disciples), “He must increase; I must decrease.”
His humility and praise of Christ in this statement demonstrates the degree to which God’s grace rests upon him. He rightly sees his purpose accomplished, but for one more heroic action. (Through his life he has preceded Jesus – he did so in birth and in assuming his ministry – he soon goes to precede him in death.) But for now his lesson is established for us. He has done great things in the name of the Father and there were those who would have carried him off as chief prophet of the age. That example of humility, in stepping back from prominence, is the one we must take from this passage.
Today we pray that we may be like St. John
Pax
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