Gospel: John 1:6-8,
19-28
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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Reflection:
Have you thought or
counted the things that you’ve done for God? For example, when you do something
for the poor, do you claim it as credit for yourself? Or you do it because it’s
for the greater glory of God? You don’t claim credit for what you do, you’re
simply content to become a nameless and faceless instrument of God.
John is silently
speaking to our hearts through this third Sunday of Advent’s gospel. He tells
us, when you do things for the poor always do it for the greater glory of God
and not for your own glory. Be content to become a nameless and faceless
instrument of God. John could have owned to himself his ministry from God but
he did not, he pointed to Jesus as the greater power behind him.
Many times we fall
into the trap of self-glorification at the
expense of God and the poor that we help. Many times over we fall into the trap
of raising ourselves to the altar of admiration and glorification instead of
silently fading away in favor of Jesus.
Because of his life
changing preaching and the miracles that he did, John was asked by the priest
and Levites, who are you? He humbly said I am not the Christ not even Elijah or
a prophet (John 1:20-21). John further said, one mightier than I is coming
after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals (John
1:27).
For the reason of
the things that you do for God, what if somebody would ask you, who are you?
Would you trumpet your qualities and achievements or you simply fade away and
become a nameless and faceless worker for God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
