Reflection for Friday January 2, Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church; 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:

How could you remain in the perpetual grace of God? You would always remain in the perpetual grace of God when you are always humble. But it’s hard to be humble all the time, it’s hard to bow; it’s hard to bend in humility. It’s hard to conquer your ego most especially when you’re doing well.

John the Baptist remained in the perpetual grace of God for he was always humble. He did not salivate for power and fame; he never had an awareness of the word ego for he remained humble and self-effacing throughout his short life.  

You know now how to be in the perpetual grace of God. But then again you will say, “It’s hard to be humble all the time.” It’s hard indeed to be humble all the time for the simple reason perhaps that you think that humility is a byproduct of your own effort.

You don’t dispense humility to yourself, its God through the graciousness of the Holy Spirit that gives you humility. Therefore pray to Jesus to grant you the grace of humility for He freely dispense it to those who humbly ask for it.

Have you already asked Jesus to dispense unto you the virtue of humility? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas