Gospel: John 1:29-34
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said,
'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.'
I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he
might be made known to Israel." John testified further, saying, "I
saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did
not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'On
whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will
baptize with the Holy Spirit.' Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son
of God."
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Reflection:
Do you once in a while crave for attention and recognition?
Whether we admit it or not, there are times that we gloat about ourselves
and we crave to be recognized. This is one of our human frailties to raise
ourselves in the altar of prominence most especially when we gain something for
ourselves. Or when there is an opportunity for us to be recognized we
immediately grab that fleeting moment of opportunity.
There are even some who change with time; for example in friendships,
some are like weather conditions. They often change as they gain riches and
higher life status. But lest we forget that whatever we have now is temporary.
Someday or even sooner what we have now may be taken from us and we end up with
nothing.
So let us keep our feet on the ground, let us at all times follow the
humble path of John the Baptist so that we could become effective heralds for
Jesus. Let us share Jesus if not in our words we do it through our actions.
Many do not know Jesus because we don’t live the teachings of Jesus.
John lived to the hilt the teachings of Jesus, he did not compete with
Jesus for attention. He instead let Jesus shine not minding if some of his
followers left him for Jesus. Why? For the simple reason that John was so
secure in His role as the precursor for the messiah.
Insecurity was never in the bones of John, he let Jesus bloom as he
silently did his role outside of the fleeting lights of recognition.
Are we like John also? - Marino J. Dasmarinas