Contemplating today's Gospel

Liturgical day: Christmas Weekday: January 2nd

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January 2nd: Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

Gospel text (Jn 1:19-28): This is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites [to him] to ask him, “Who are you?” he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Messiah.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So 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?” He said: “I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord,”’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Comment: Mons. Romà CASANOVA i Casanova Bishop of Vic (Barcelona, Spain)

“Among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me”

Today, in the Gospel of the Eucharist liturgy, we read the testimony of John the Baptist. The text preceding these words in St. John's Gospel is the prologue where it is clearly affirmed: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (Jn 1:14). What was announced in the prologue —as a great prelude— is now, step by step, manifested in the Gospel. The mystery of the Incarnated Verb is the mystery of salvation for mankind: “Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (Jn 1:17). Salvation comes through Jesus Christ, and faith is the answer to the manifestation of Christ. Whoever believes in Him is saved.

The mystery of salvation in Christ is accompanied always by the testimony. Jesus Christ himself is “The Amen, the faithful and true witness” (Rev 3:14). It is John the Baptist who bears witness with his vision and gaze as a prophet: “There is one among you whom… is coming after me” (Jn 1:26-27). And this is how the Apostles understand their mission: “God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32).

The whole Church, and therefore all its members, have the mission of bearing witness. The testimony we bring to the world has a name. Jesus Christ is the very Gospel. He is the “Good News”. And the proclamation of the Gospel all over the world must also be understood as the key of the testimony uniting inseparably the announcement and the life. It is good to remember the words from the Pope Saint Paul VI: “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses rather than to teachers and if he does listen to teachers it is because they are witnesses”.

Thoughts on Today's Gospel

“Come then and see new and astounding miracles: the Sun of righteousness washing in the Jordan, fire immersed in water, God sanctified by the ministry of man. Today every creature shouts in resounding song: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Saint Proclus of Constantinople)
“John the Baptist “bends down” before God. It is exactly what the Redeemer does: God dwells on high, yet he stoops down to us. God’s looking down is active. It transforms me and the world.” (Benedict XVI)
“Jesus' messianic consecration reveals his divine mission (…). ‘The one who was anointed is the Son, and he was anointed with the Spirit who is the anointing' (St. Irenaeus of Lyon). His eternal messianic consecration was revealed during the time of his earthly life at the moment of his baptism by John (…).” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church, Nº 438)

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