Reflection for January 2, Saturday Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church (M): John 1:19-28

Gospel: John 1:19-28

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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Reflection:

Are you sometimes tempted to assume honor that is not for you? John had the opportunity to assume who he was not but he did not succumb to the temptation of fleeting power, adulation and popularity. 

We cannot compare to John the Baptist in every aspect of his virtuous life. His humility is beyond question; his steadfastness to fight for what is right and moral is worthy of our emulation. John remained true to his mission as the humble precursor of Jesus. 

How about you? Are you humble enough to let others take credit for an endeavor which was partly realized with your help? Are you humble enough to simply be on the sideline when you have all the opportunity to be in the frontline? 

 It’s very tempting to ego trip and take credit for something that is not for us. But the gospel is telling us that we must be humble at all times. We must not bestow upon ourselves our own achievements we should rather let others bestow it upon us and humbly accept it. 

John teaches us that true greatness before the Lord is only possible through humility no other way but through humility only. Never mind the adulation or praises of the crowd for these are intoxicating, temporary and passing. 

Never mind if others are taking credit for the good that you’ve done for God is not sleeping anyway. God sees everything that we do we cannot hide anything from Him. Not only that God sees us; He also knows our hidden motives. 

Always be humble if you want to be close to Jesus, always be humble if you want to grow in faith and always be humble if you want others to respect you.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas