John the Baptist’s Testimony

Today's Reflections   

 

 

John the Baptist’s Testimony

Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
 

6A man named John was sent from God. ⁷He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.

19And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites [to him] to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” ²²So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” ²³He said: “I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert,/ “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” ²⁴Some Pharisees were also sent. ²⁵They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?” ²⁶John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,²⁷the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” ²⁸This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Reflection:

Are you the Prophet? They continually ask John, “Who are you?” Yet, they do not recognize him. It will be the same with Jesus. They will not accept or recognize him. John begins his Gospel on this note: “... the world did not know him… his own people did not accept him.”

We were blasting a friend with our negative impressions of him. He did not argue with us or answer back. After we were through, he sadly sighed, “I thought you already knew me. Seemingly you do not know me yet!” It is one of the saddest feelings that can overcome a person. Do you know your spouse really well? Do you know your children or your parents? Do your parents know and understand you?

It is said that, after God, Google knows everything. We may have a lot of information and technical know-how, but these do not cover the heart and soul of the people around us. The latter can be acquired only through a close, personal, and direct relationship with the person. Go, do not ask, but plunge into who your friend is.

Have a family sharing about what touched you most today.