Breaking the Word

Christmas Weekday, Wednesday – 04^th January 2023 — Gospel: John 1,35-42

Knowing When to Let Go

Today’s Gospel presents John the Baptist’s continuous role as witness or mediator of God’s word. His mission goes further, namely, to point out Jesus to people, to the extent that he can let go two of his disciples to become Jesus’ disciples. As he discreetly redirects two of his best disciples to follow Christ, his humility is in full play. Not only does he accept the fact that he must take the second stage to Jesus, he actively works for this to happen. John the Baptist was very happy when people left him to follow Jesus, because his ministry focused on Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn 3,30).  However, for an ordinary person it would be difficult to seek only God’s glory and the good of those around us, because humans as we are, our hearts easily attach themselves to people, to areas of responsibility and to the attention we may seek because of what we do. We find John the Baptist was well focused and faithful to his mission. He never knew the final results of his actions, but he trusted in the Holy Spirit and did what he felt God wanted. However, if we want to do God’s will, we have to know when it’s time for us to let go. Like John the Baptist, the only thing we should have our hearts set on is establishing Christ’s kingdom.

Christmas Weekday, Tuesday – 03^rd January 2023 — Gospel: John 1,29-34

Lamb for Remission and Protection

John the Baptist opens the identification of Jesus and announces him as God’s lamb to those around him. It is a very special identity that helped to explain the role of Jesus on earth. Probably, John the Baptist used this name for two main reasons. Firstly, every morning and evening the priests sacrificed a lamb in the temple for the remission of people’s sins (Ex 29,38-42). This sacrifice was offered twice daily, because people sinned all the time. However, God provided the perfect sacrifice: his Son, Jesus. He will die on the cross as expiation for everybody’s sins and for all time. Secondly, John the Baptist thought about the Passover. At the Passover, the people killed a lamb and spread the blood on the doorposts of their houses. God who had seen the lambs’ blood on their houses protected them. As this lamb’ blood had saved the people from death, so will be with the blood of Jesus. Those who believe in Jesus will be protected and saved from all dangers and death.