The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the action appropriate to Christians baptized as prophets abiding in Christ.
Pointing the Way
The reading from the First Letter of John describes life from God’s Anointing.
* [2:22–23] Certain gnostics denied that the earthly Jesus was the Christ; to deny knowledge of the Son is to deny the Father, since only through the Son has God been fully revealed (Jn 1:18; 14:8–9).1
Psalm 98 praises the Judge of the World.
* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9).2
In the Gospel of John, the testimony of John the Baptist points to Jesus.
* [1:20] Messiah: the anointed agent of Yahweh, usually considered to be of Davidic descent. See further the note on Jn 1:41.3
Beth Samson shares that like John the Baptist, Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, whose feasts we celebrate today, spent their lives’ work pointing us in the direction of the true God, the Trinity, who, in the relational, dynamic nature as God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, offer us abundant guidance, grace, companionship, Love, and hope.
God of community, God of light, we come to you today in gratitude for recognizing both who we are and who we are not. Thank you for the gifts you have given me and the talents and resources I have to use those gifts in service of others. May I strive to live like John the Baptist, Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen – using my gifts to point us in the direction of Jesus Christ. I ask today for the strength, courage, and zeal to do so. Amen.4
Don Schwager quotes “John points to the Redeemer,” by Gregory the Great (540-604 AD).
"John did not baptize with the Spirit but with water, since he was unable to take away the sins of those being baptized. He washed their bodies with water but not their hearts with pardon. Why did one whose baptism did not forgive sins baptize, except that he was observing his vocation as forerunner? He whose birth foreshadowed greater birth, by his baptizing foreshadowed the Lord who would truly baptize. He whose preaching made him the forerunner of Christ, by baptizing also became his forerunner, using a symbol of the future sacrament. With these other mysteries he makes known the mystery of our Redeemer, declaring that he has stood among people and not been known. The Lord appeared in a human body: he came as God in flesh, visible in his body, invisible in his majesty." (excerpt from FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 4)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 1:19-28 comments that it is not always easy to accept God’s plan for us. Sometimes we envision ourselves doing great things for God—and getting recognized and praised for it in the process. But no opportunities present themselves, and we go unnoticed. Or sometimes we are tempted to shrink back when the cross we are called to carry seems too heavy to bear.
When situations like these come up, remember John the Baptist and stand firm. Trust that, like John, you can be a far more effective voice announcing the good news if you stay faithful to your call than if you try to forge your own path. Believe that Jesus is trustworthy; he will reward you for your faithfulness. “Thank you, Lord, for the steadfast witness of your servant, John. Help me to hold fast to my calling when I am tempted to go my own way.”6
Friar Jude Winkler connects the anti Christ of the Letter of John to the Docetists. The Gospel of John uses Levirate marriage symbols in the description by John the Baptist of his unworthiness. Friar Jude shares that Jesus has the right to marry the widow, Israel.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, summarizes the work of friend, Catholic priest and peace activist John Dear. He notes that true contemplation always leads to action on behalf of a world in desperate need of healers and peacemakers, channels of God’s grace by any name. Fr Richard asks how might we join in that work in the year ahead?
The work of peace and reconciliation is not only political, it’s human work, and it’s spiritual. The God of peace is determined to reconcile the human race, and employs whomever will help in this great project. . . . As we have seen from the abolitionist, suffragist, civil rights, antiwar, human rights, and environmental movements, patient grassroots organizing and reconciliation over time has the power to transform nations and the world.7
A new year is a time to rededicate our action to pointing to Life on our journey with Jesus.
References
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