1/2/2023 (Monday) Today’s gospel reading: John 1:19-28
19 This is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”
21 So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
22 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?”
23 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.”
24 Some Pharisees were also sent.
25 They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”
26 John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
27 the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”
28 This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
1/2/2023 (Monday) Today’s gospel reflection: John 1:19-28
When somebody asks, “Who are you?”, how do you answer? Perhaps you will mention your job or profession. Maybe you can also utter being a son or daughter of your parents. It would be very rare for someone to say, “I am a child of God”. Yet it is the truth. Whether we accept it or not, we are all children of God. Baptism only makes it official. Of course, there are a lot of people who do deny this fact because they don’t believe in God in the first place.
Indeed, The Christ lives in us and among us. Yet many do not recognize it or refuse to do so. John the Baptist knew this (verse 26). Yes, even if the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), many people do not recognize it. We maybe some kind of well-educated people like the Pharisees but without the eyes of faith, it is impossible to recognize the presence of God in our life.
Still, let us all be John the Baptist who will continue to carry out the mission of preparing for the way of the Lord. He has already come but He will come again. There may be many obstacles as we do this mission but nothing can stop us. The Christ is us is alive and He is our strength, not only for this new year but the rest of our life. Let us be the voice crying out in the desert proclaiming the Good News of salvation.
Go here to see gospel reading and reflection for January 3, 2023.