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Gospel Reading for December 17, 2023 – John 1: 6-8, 19-28
TRUE WITNESS
A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
And 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.
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For John, it was very clear what his role was in the history of salvation, such that although he had a lot of followers, he prepared them for the public “appearance” of Jesus. As a matter of fact, when John saw Jesus coming toward him, he said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1: 29) and John 1: 35-37 states: “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
John was a TRUE WITNESS of Jesus because his life is every Christian’s calling: To prepare the way of the Lord. When we are unable to draw others to repentance or to deepen their relationship with God, we are probably not witnessing enough the life of Jesus. If we draw others to ourselves instead of to God, how can we be preparing the way of the Lord?
Lord, teach us to be like John: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3: 30)
