“Grace is given Not to those who speak [their faith] but to those who live their faith”

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　St. Gregory Nazianzen

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

1John 2:22-28

Who is the liar?

The one who denies that Jesus is the Christ. This is an antichrist, who denies both the Father and the Son.

The one who denies the Son is without the Father, and those who acknowledge the Son also have the Father.

Let what you heard, from the beginning, remain in you.

If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you too, will remain in the Son and in the Father.

And this is the promise he himself gave us: eternal life. I write this to you, thinking of those who try to lead you astray.

 

You received from him an anointing, and it remains in you, so you do not need someone to teach you.

His anointing teaches you all things. It speaks the truth and does not lie to you; so remain in him,

and keep what he has taught you. And now, my children, live in him, so that when he appears in his glory,

we may be confident, and not ashamed, before him when he comes.

 

Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊     

John 1:19-28

This was the testimony of. John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him, "Who are you?"

John recognized the truth, and did not deny it. He said, "I am not the Messiah."

And they asked him, "Then who are you? Elijah?" He answered, "I am not."

 

They said, "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Tell us who you are,

so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?" And John said,

quoting the prophet Isaiah, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord!

 

"Those who had been sent were Pharisees; and they put a further question to John, "Then why are you baptizing,

if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?" John answered, "I baptize you with water,

but among you stands one whom you do not know; although he comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal."

This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Life in union with God."

Saints point to Christ. This is what John the Baptist does in the Gospel.

He points away from himself to our Saviour. Surrounded by great crowds coming to him for baptism,

John might have been tempted to take the place of Jesus as Messiah.

But "John recognized the truth and did not deny it."

 

Pride didn't get the better of him because he stayed close to God in prayer.

Life in union with God helps us to perceive the truth more clearly and gives us the confidence to witness to it.

Our vision can be clouded by pride or self-centredness, leading us to base our lives on false truths

which deny Christ or push him to the margins, and place our selfish interests at the centre.

 

We have been anointed by the Holy Spirit, who will lead us to the complete truth (Jn 16:13),

a truth that testifies to our created nature as God's servants and to the glorious destiny of eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us stay rooted in that truth and witness to it in our daily lives.