COLLECT: “ALMIGHTY AND EVER-LIVING GOD, WHO THROUGH YOUR ONLY BEGOTTEN SON HAVE MADE US A NEW CREATION FOR YOURSELF, GRANT, WE PRAY, THAT BY YOUR GRACE WE MAY BE FOUND IN THE LIKENESS OF HIM, IN WHOM OUR NATURE IS UNITED TO YOU. WJHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
1Jn 5:14-21; Ps 149:1-6,9 and Jn 3:22-30.
The spirit of humility, which is a great virtue, is being portrayed in today’s scriptures. John knew his mission very well, and he also knew himself. He knew he was not the Messiah, even when people were ‘pushing’ him with questions to know his identity. This could have influenced John to tell the people that he was the Messiah. Let us learn from John not to be influenced by other people, to claim to be where we should not be or to claim to be what we are not, or do what we should not. Deeply reflect on this.
John knew he was the Forerunner and the one who came to prepare the way for the Lord. He was the best man of the bridegroom, the Messiah. He was aware of his role he came to play in preparing the people’s souls for the Messiah. John was joyful at the presence of the Messiah: “Look, there is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 2:29). John was also humble enough to tell the people that the Messiah is greater than he. Because of all this, Jesus testified that John is the greatest person born of a woman.
We have a lot to learn from John. In fact, he is a model for anyone entrusted with any type of responsibility, whether in the family, community, church, school, office, politics, or wherever one finds oneself with responsibilities to discharge. Our attitude regarding the discharge of our duties and responsibilities should be that of John, ‘He must increase, I must decrease’. If we adopt such an attitude at work and toward the people we work with, it can truly change our present world, which is more interested in power, position, authority, wealth, and fame.
These together with others are the idols and false gods of our generation which scripture warns us today to guard ourselves against (Cf. 1Jn 5:21). In fact, pride, which is a Sin against the Holy Spirit, with its brothers – arrogance and pomposity, is the greatest and the worst idol or false god a lot of people in our generation worship day and night. This is sometimes more pronounced through people in authority, in power, and those in positions of authority. Some very famous and wealthy people are also proud. It must be noted that, those in authority, power and positions should be mindful of their fall.
Experience has shown that when we are not careful and vigilant, our ‘fall’ and ‘collapse’ from grace to grass is woeful and disastrous. Let us learn from John’s humility and live as humble people, work as humble people and be saved by our Lord and Saviour who is full of love, mercy, compassion and humility. We also must learn from John that “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. Therefore, always keep in mind that you have been put in that authority, position, or whatever by God and do not be proud and arrogant about that. Stay blessed by the Lord.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, SATURDAY, ON THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE ANNUNCIATION, THE VISITATION, THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE AND THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE’. (LET US PRAY FOR HUMILITY, LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR, POVERTY IN SPIRIT, OBEDIENCE AND JOY IN FINDING JESUS) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
PRAYER: “MAY YOUR PEOPLE, O LORD, WHOM YOU GUIDE AND SUSTAIN IN MANY WAYS, EXPERIENCE, BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, THE REMEDIES WHICH YOU BESTOW, THAT, WITH THE NEEDED SOLACE OF THINGS THAT PASS AWAY, THEY MAY STRIVE WITH EVER DEEPENED TRUST FOR THINGS ETERNAL. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.
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