“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
2ndJanuary 2018.
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TUESDAY, CHRISTMASTIDE
Memorial of Sts. Basil and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church
Reading 1: 1 Jn 2:22-28 The man who denies Jesus Christ is the Anti-Christ
Res. Psalm: Ps 98: 1-4 God has remembered his truth and love for his people.
Gospel: Jn 1:19-28 John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, gives witness to Jesus.
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BAPTISM, NEW LIFE OF GRACE
We may recall that the Advent gospels proclaimed the appearance of John the Baptist in the desert, preaching, baptizing and encountering Christ. We read about him often in the prologue to John's Gospel. However, the Christmas cycle takes us beyond the expectations of Advent. The prologue showed the Baptist asserting that Jesus "ranks ahead of me because he existed before me" (Jn 1:15). The Baptist adds new information, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him" (Jn 1:32). He seems even to allude to Jesus' sacrificial role: "Behold the Lamb of God" (Jn 1:36). Mark records an "epiphany" when John baptized Jesus: "You are my beloved Son; with you / am well pleased" (Mk 1:11). John humbly puts himself in second place: "The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease" (Jn 3:29-30). The Baptist is the bridge between the old dispensation and the new grace of Christ, celebrated in the Christmas Season.
John the Baptist is alive in his ongoing proclamation, calling us to repentance and calling us to prepare the way for the Lord in our lives. His message is just as relevant for us today as it was some 2,000 years ago. At the time he walked the earth, he preached so as to prepare the immediate way for Christ. He prepared the way for the Messiah to physically enter into our world and present us with the gift of eternal salvation. The baptism of John was different from the baptism of Jesus. John’s baptism was simply a sign of repentance. Jesus’ baptism was a sacrament of rebirth. John’s baptism signified the repentance from an old life of sin. Jesus’ baptism signified the reception of a new life of grace: the incredible life of the risen Jesus. How well am I nurturing my new life?
Let us reflect upon the year that is past as well as the year to come. What is it that we need to let go of from the past and what is it that you need to focus on for the coming year. Let us make a clear resolution to identify any obstacle to the coming of Christ into your heart and let discover the new life that awaits us this coming year.
Prayer: Lord, You came into this world out of perfect love for me. You came to save me from all sin and You came to deliver me from all evil. Help me to have hope and vision for all that awaits and all that You are calling me to. May I heed the words of the Baptist and make the road ahead straight so that I can follow Your perfect will. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.