10 January 2015 - GOSPEL JN 3:22-30

GOSPEL JN 3:22-30

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings. So they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him." John answered and said, "No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ, but that I was sent before him. 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."

Reflection:

In today's Gospel, v heard abt John d Baptist (JB) clarifying his own stand that he was nt d Messiah.

There was a general belief that JB was d long awaited & promised Messiah. Bt he denied & made it very clear that he was nt d Messiah. He was just d prophet who came to prepare d way for d Lord.

JB was fully aware of his mission & it is his humility & confidence in Jesus that made him joyfully acknowledge, "He must increase; I must decrease" This is a perfect example of submission to God's will.

Our work is to make way for Christ in d pple's hearts. V must make it a point to advance Jesus & nt ourselves. V must make evry effort to increase d presence & power of Christ in d hearts of d pple & in d world. And when that is achieved, v must stand aside & rejoice like JB.

Let us rejoice & step back to let others grow. Let us love as Christ showed us to love. Let us b humble as JB showed us to b humble.

Jesus loves u. Hv a 1dful weekend wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙Wt Love... Fr Robin, Powai💙💐