1/3/2023 (Tuesday) Today’s gospel reading: John 1:29-34

29 John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
30 He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’
31 I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.”
32 John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him.
33 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.’
34 Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

1/3/2023 (Tuesday) Today’s gospel reflection: John 1:29-34

John the Baptist was born with a special mission: to prepare the way of the Messiah, that is, Jesus, the Lamb of God. Although John was not familiar with Jesus as the Messiah yet (see verse 33), the Holy Spirit worked through him and with vigilance, he was able to recognize Jesus and to testify that indeed, Jesus is the Son of God.

Aware as he is of his role, John the Baptist points out that Jesus ranks higher than he is and that Jesus even existed before him. He even claimed that he is unworthy to untie Jesus’ sandals (John 1:27). In other words, he wants the people to pay attention to Jesus, not him.

This is one great lesson from John the Baptist. When we do our mission, let us always know where we stand. We work in the vineyard to give glory to God, not to get attention for ourselves. Like John, we need to recognize the presence of Jesus in our midst. We can only do this through the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Like John, we need to always tell people to fix their eyes on Jesus, the Lamb of God. Like John, we need to go in the “desert” from time to time in order to refresh our hunger and thirst for the presence of God.

More importantly, let us always be reminded that Jesus is the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” starting with our own sins. For indeed we are sinners and we do commit sin from time to time, God’s grace is abundantly available if we remain humble enough to ask for it.