Saturday, January 11

After Epiphany
1st Reading: 1 Jn 5:14-21

Gospel: Jn 3:22-30

Jesus went into the territory of Judea with his disciples. He stayed there with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim where water was plentiful; people came to him and were baptized. This happened before John was put in prison.

Now John's disciples had been questioned by a Jew about spiritual cleansing, so they came to him and said, "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, and about whom you spoke favorably, is now baptizing and all are going to him."

John answered, "No one can take on anything except what has been given him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said: 'I am not the Christ but I have been sent before him.' Only the bridegroom has the bride; but the friend of the bridegroom stands by and listens, and rejoices to hear the bridegroom's voice. My joy is now full. It is necessary that he increase but that I decrease."

Gospel Commentary

John the Baptist's contentment is deeply moving. From the point of view of this competitive world, he is losing. His followers and the crowds are flocking to the newcomer, Jesus. And yet there is no rancor or bitterness in John, only a profound satisfaction. We who experience so much restlessness and dissatisfaction even amidst all that we possess must interrogate John for the secret of his contentment. His peace seems to come from a sense of knowing the essential mission and purpose of his life, which he embraces, without a desire to diminish or overstep: "No one can take on anything except what has been given him from heaven." His joy, too, seems to spring from a love for God's people, who, at last, have found in Jesus the bridegroom they have longed for.

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