The voice of John the Baptist resounding in the desert and by the River Jordan during the Advent season returns on the days following the octave of Christmas. This time, the voice serves as introduction to the entry of Jesus as he reveals himself to Israel. The baptizer now becomes a “witness” to the long-awaited Messiah. But the testimony concerns himself first: he flatly denies that he is the Messiah, as some people suspect him to be, given the fact that he announces the word of God with power. The Prologue of John’s Gospel presents his person and his mission: “A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light... He was not the light, but came to testify to the light” (1:6-8).
With his denial that he is the Christ comes John’s full assurance to those who interrogate him: Yes, the Messiah has come. Indeed, he is present among the people, but still unrecognized. John himself does not recognize him clearly (it was thought that when the Messiah appears, no one would know where he comes from, Jn 7:27), but at the right moment he will be given a divine sign. As such, the Messiah will present himself not in an obtrusive manner, not in a dramatic way. Only with the “ears and eyes of the heart,” like what John has, will people recognize that the Messiah has come to “pitch his tent” among the people.
First Reading • 1 Jn 2:22-28
Beloved: Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.
Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. I write you these things about those who would deceive you. As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him.
And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming.
Responsorial Psalm • Ps 98
“All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.”
Gospel • 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 Christ.” 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 Christ 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.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.