Sunday, January 01, 2006
MEMORIAL, ST. BASIL THE GREAT & ST. GREGORY NAZIANZEN, BISHOPS
JANUARY 2, 2006
MEMORIAL, ST. BASIL THE GREAT & ST. GREGORY NAZIANZEN, BISHOPS
1 JOHN 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.
JOHN 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.
REFLECTION
The attitude taken by John the Baptist is not a popular one in our
time. He wants no credit for himself. He says that he is not the
Messiah, nor Elijah nor any great prophet. He confesses to only one
purpose. He must prepare the way for someone else, someone so much
greater than himself, that he is not worthy to unfasten the strap of
that person's sandals. Such humility, such willingness to take the
back seat, such simplicity is not popular. And yet everyone
dislikes the opposite, namely pride, when he sees it in others.
We dislike people who act as if they were God almighty and yet we
are drawn to do those same proud things ourselves. We are like the
monkeys in Darwin's famous experiment. He showed a bunch of monkeys
a bag full of snakes. The monkeys threw up their arms and shrieked
and ran away but they could not resist. They kept coming back to
look at the snakes, kept shrieking and running away and coming back
for more. Now pride, self-importance, is a real bag of snakes more
harmful than snakes. Yet we shriek at the snakes when someone else
is involved, but keep coming back for more ourselves.
John the Baptist was wiser than most of us. He resisted enticing
temptation to be more admired than the one to come. He resisted the
temptation to keep his own followers for himself. What a thankless
job, to risk our own life and spend our energy and give up our
admirers to someone else who is to take our place.
But John understood his vocation fully. He was to lead others to
Christ, not to glory in himself. Really, this is the vocation of
each and every one of us. As Christians, it is our vocation to lead
others to Christ, and not to take the credit ourselves when we have
accomplished something good.
Does it seem too much to us for God to expect this of us? It is the
only way in which we can find fulfillment, the only way our good
works will have a lasting effect, the only way our love can be real
and convincing.
Let this be our prayer today: "Lord Jesus, make me real by letting
me know you and letting me know myself. For then, pride will offer
little temptation."
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray-
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- for the enlightenment and conversion of Armando.
- In Thanksgiving: Lydia
- for blessings, protection and good health of the Pe Family
- for the personal intentions of the Marasigan and Gonzales Family.
- for the speedy recovery and well-being of Agripina Franco
Marcelino.
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Betty Roxas-Chua Yao.
Eternal rest grant unto her and may perpetual light shine upon her.
May she and all the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace.
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Lorenza Averilla Montesines.
Eternal rest grant unto her and may perpetual light shine upon her.
May she and all the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace.
- In thanksgiving: Balingit's family.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Caridad B. Yang
- Prayer Intention: Nañagas Family
- Wedding Anniversary: Napoleon & Estrella Go Co
- Wedding Anniversary: Dennis & Cornelia Tan Ang
- In Memoriam (+): Mr. & Mrs. Mije & Francisco Tancasis
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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