Gospel Reading
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 heaven
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."
Jn 1:29-34
Gospel Reflection
Praised be Jesus Christ!
In the Gospel today, St. John the Baptist is a true example of vocational humility, for he knew that he was to be the forerunner to Christ, the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. He knew exactly what his vocation was and lived it to the full. John the Baptist could easily have overstepped and told the world that he was the Messiah. But he didn't.
By our own Baptism, we all share in the vocation of John the Baptist to declare and to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God. This is what we can learn from the Baptist: that no matter what our state in life, whether married, single, in religious life, or a priest we are all called to proclaim the Gospel.
The letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians today reminds us that another aspect of our vocation is that we are all called to holiness. We are all challenged to strengthen our prayer/sacramental life and our works of charity so that we can authentically proclaim the Gospel through the holiness of our lives.
We ask the intercession of St. John the Baptist so we can be heralds of the Gospel in all the opportunities that will be ours this week.
As always, know of my prayers before Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
+ Bishop Schlert
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