Christmas Weekday
Reading 1 1 JN 2:29–3:6
If you consider that God is righteous,
you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness
is begotten by him.
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.
Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness,
for sin is lawlessness.
You know that he was revealed to take away sins,
and in him there is no sin.
No one who remains in him sins;
no one who sins has seen him or known him.
Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 3CD-4, 5-6
R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Alleluia JN 1:14A, 12A
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him
he gave power to become the children of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel JN 1:29-34
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John testified further, saying,
“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”
MEDITATION 1: DON SCHWAGER
John calls Jesus the Lamb of God and thus signifies Jesus' mission as the One who redeems us from our sins. The blood of the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12) delivered the Israelites in Egypt from slavery and death. The Lord Jesus freely offered up his life for us on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7). The blood which he poured out for us on the cross cleanses, heals, and frees us from our slavery to sin, and from the "wages of sin which is death" (Romans 6:23) and the "destruction of both body and soul in hell" (Matthew 10:28).
John points to Jesus' saving mission - to offerup his life as the atoning sacrifice for our sins
It is significant that John was the son of Zachariah, a priest of Israel who participated in the daily sacrifice of a lamb in the temple for the sins of the people (Exodus 29). John recognized that Jesus was the perfect unblemished lamb offered by the Father in heaven as the one and only sacrifice that could cancel the debt of sin, and free us from death and the destruction of body and soul in hell.
The Holy Spirit reveals who Jesus truly is - the Son of God and Savior of the world
When John says he did not know Jesus (John 1:31,33) he was referring to the hidden reality of Jesus' divinity. But the Holy Spirit in that hour revealed to John Jesus' true nature, such that John bore witness that this is the Son of God. How can we be certain that Jesus is truly the Christ, the Son of the living God? The Holy Spirit makes the Lord Jesus Christ known to us through the gift of faith. God gives us his Spirit as our helper and guide who opens our hearts and minds to receive and comprehend the great mystery and plan of God - to unite all things in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:10).
Do you want to grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ? Ask the Lord to pour his Holy Spirit upon you to deepen your faith, hope, and love for God and for the plan he has for your life.
"Lord Jesus Christ, fill me with the power of your Holy Spirit and let me grow in the knowledge of your great love and truth. Let your Spirit be aflame in my heart that I may know and love you more fervently and strive to do your will in all things."
MEDITATION 2: FR. ALFONSE
Jn 1:29-34 Pulling Rank
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of god, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’”
“You gotta be positive!” “You gotta be assertive!” “You gotta be convincing!” “Be original!” “Be confident in yourself!” These are just a few of the quotes I wrote down from a leadership training class I took while I was working at Kodak. I remember having a lot of fun participating in it. I even got a certificate for it.
But now I know that I didn’t learn much about leadership that day. I actually learned about it in my seminary days. And one quote from those days sticks out the most in my mind: “He must increase. I must decrease.” This quote comes from John the Baptist.
Everyone knows that if you do not have the slightest bit of musical “talent” or “acting” ability, then the secret to success is to be abnormal, bizarre, weird, freakish, and strange. Hollywood and the music industry are the modern circuses of our day. In the old days, the circus would come around your town and advertize the “Thinnest woman”, the “Hairiest man”, the “Shortest woman”, and the “Tallest man”. They would even advertize their freakiest stunts, such as the “Sword eating man” and the “Fire eating woman”. Believe it or not, these were the main attractions.
Doesn’t the entertainment industry today do the same thing with shows like “My strange addiction”, “My four hundred pound life”, “Hoarders” and “Teen murderers”? Doesn’t it do the same thing with a mom who takes her little honey boo boo and gives her a mixed drink (Mountain Dew with Red Bull)?
We all know that if you want to get ahead in this world, then you must sell yourself as being outlandish. Is there any wonder why it’s a fallen world; a world full of masked, deceitful and prideful people?
Technology may have changed over time, but talent has not, and those who do not have it continue to search for the freakiest ways to compensate for it. Hollywood is not interested in sharing people’s lives. It is interested in taking people’s money and lives. Yes, money continues to be a huge motivator for freakiness and human exploitation.
John the Baptist had a very good thing going. He had lots of customers. He had lots of followers. He had lots of fans. Business was good.
And then one day it all went away. Jesus took it all away from the Baptist, every single bit of it: his message, his customers, his fans, even his followers. And what’s even more remarkable about all of this is that John accepted it. In fact, he even predicted it: “A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me.”
Wow! John understood: My life no longer belongs to me. It is not I who lives in me, but Christ who lives in me. John understood that if you want to get ahead in God’s world, then truth and humility are the way to go.
He existed before me. Jesus pulls rank on John because Jesus existed before John. And although John started his ministry long before Christ did, Christ existed long before John did. In fact, “In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1). That’s a long time folks.
There are a lot of people I consider to be friends. Some of them I never met, while others died long ago. But what they wrote I couldn’t agree with more. One man, a retired priest, Father Jim Scott (not his real name), wrote the following:
“I was brought up in a family where we were taught to focus, not on ourselves, but on other people. To focus outward rather than inward. I have put this to good use in my work. A young man recently asked me, “What lesson do you have for me before I go off to work?” I said, “It’s very simple. No matter whom you meet, no matter where you meet them, always presume that they’re much better than you are. Presume that they’re head and shoulders above you, and you’ll have no problem.” When I look around, the most devastating Achilles’ heel that I see people suffering from is that they take themselves too seriously. While it’s very important to take others seriously, don’t take yourself that seriously. If you do, then you’ve really got a problem.” (“30 Lessons for Living” by Karl Pullemer, Ph.D, page 75).
John knew that. Maybe that’s the best lesson we can learn this new year.
Reading 1 1 JN 2:29–3:6
If you consider that God is righteous,
you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness
is begotten by him.
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.
Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness,
for sin is lawlessness.
You know that he was revealed to take away sins,
and in him there is no sin.
No one who remains in him sins;
no one who sins has seen him or known him.
Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 3CD-4, 5-6
R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Alleluia JN 1:14A, 12A
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him
he gave power to become the children of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel JN 1:29-34
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John testified further, saying,
“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”
MEDITATION 1: DON SCHWAGER
John calls Jesus the Lamb of God and thus signifies Jesus' mission as the One who redeems us from our sins. The blood of the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12) delivered the Israelites in Egypt from slavery and death. The Lord Jesus freely offered up his life for us on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7). The blood which he poured out for us on the cross cleanses, heals, and frees us from our slavery to sin, and from the "wages of sin which is death" (Romans 6:23) and the "destruction of both body and soul in hell" (Matthew 10:28).
John points to Jesus' saving mission - to offerup his life as the atoning sacrifice for our sins
It is significant that John was the son of Zachariah, a priest of Israel who participated in the daily sacrifice of a lamb in the temple for the sins of the people (Exodus 29). John recognized that Jesus was the perfect unblemished lamb offered by the Father in heaven as the one and only sacrifice that could cancel the debt of sin, and free us from death and the destruction of body and soul in hell.
The Holy Spirit reveals who Jesus truly is - the Son of God and Savior of the world
When John says he did not know Jesus (John 1:31,33) he was referring to the hidden reality of Jesus' divinity. But the Holy Spirit in that hour revealed to John Jesus' true nature, such that John bore witness that this is the Son of God. How can we be certain that Jesus is truly the Christ, the Son of the living God? The Holy Spirit makes the Lord Jesus Christ known to us through the gift of faith. God gives us his Spirit as our helper and guide who opens our hearts and minds to receive and comprehend the great mystery and plan of God - to unite all things in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:10).
Do you want to grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ? Ask the Lord to pour his Holy Spirit upon you to deepen your faith, hope, and love for God and for the plan he has for your life.
"Lord Jesus Christ, fill me with the power of your Holy Spirit and let me grow in the knowledge of your great love and truth. Let your Spirit be aflame in my heart that I may know and love you more fervently and strive to do your will in all things."
MEDITATION 2: FR. ALFONSE
Jn 1:29-34 Pulling Rank
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of god, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’”
“You gotta be positive!” “You gotta be assertive!” “You gotta be convincing!” “Be original!” “Be confident in yourself!” These are just a few of the quotes I wrote down from a leadership training class I took while I was working at Kodak. I remember having a lot of fun participating in it. I even got a certificate for it.
But now I know that I didn’t learn much about leadership that day. I actually learned about it in my seminary days. And one quote from those days sticks out the most in my mind: “He must increase. I must decrease.” This quote comes from John the Baptist.
Everyone knows that if you do not have the slightest bit of musical “talent” or “acting” ability, then the secret to success is to be abnormal, bizarre, weird, freakish, and strange. Hollywood and the music industry are the modern circuses of our day. In the old days, the circus would come around your town and advertize the “Thinnest woman”, the “Hairiest man”, the “Shortest woman”, and the “Tallest man”. They would even advertize their freakiest stunts, such as the “Sword eating man” and the “Fire eating woman”. Believe it or not, these were the main attractions.
Doesn’t the entertainment industry today do the same thing with shows like “My strange addiction”, “My four hundred pound life”, “Hoarders” and “Teen murderers”? Doesn’t it do the same thing with a mom who takes her little honey boo boo and gives her a mixed drink (Mountain Dew with Red Bull)?
We all know that if you want to get ahead in this world, then you must sell yourself as being outlandish. Is there any wonder why it’s a fallen world; a world full of masked, deceitful and prideful people?
Technology may have changed over time, but talent has not, and those who do not have it continue to search for the freakiest ways to compensate for it. Hollywood is not interested in sharing people’s lives. It is interested in taking people’s money and lives. Yes, money continues to be a huge motivator for freakiness and human exploitation.
John the Baptist had a very good thing going. He had lots of customers. He had lots of followers. He had lots of fans. Business was good.
And then one day it all went away. Jesus took it all away from the Baptist, every single bit of it: his message, his customers, his fans, even his followers. And what’s even more remarkable about all of this is that John accepted it. In fact, he even predicted it: “A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me.”
Wow! John understood: My life no longer belongs to me. It is not I who lives in me, but Christ who lives in me. John understood that if you want to get ahead in God’s world, then truth and humility are the way to go.
He existed before me. Jesus pulls rank on John because Jesus existed before John. And although John started his ministry long before Christ did, Christ existed long before John did. In fact, “In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1). That’s a long time folks.
There are a lot of people I consider to be friends. Some of them I never met, while others died long ago. But what they wrote I couldn’t agree with more. One man, a retired priest, Father Jim Scott (not his real name), wrote the following:
“I was brought up in a family where we were taught to focus, not on ourselves, but on other people. To focus outward rather than inward. I have put this to good use in my work. A young man recently asked me, “What lesson do you have for me before I go off to work?” I said, “It’s very simple. No matter whom you meet, no matter where you meet them, always presume that they’re much better than you are. Presume that they’re head and shoulders above you, and you’ll have no problem.” When I look around, the most devastating Achilles’ heel that I see people suffering from is that they take themselves too seriously. While it’s very important to take others seriously, don’t take yourself that seriously. If you do, then you’ve really got a problem.” (“30 Lessons for Living” by Karl Pullemer, Ph.D, page 75).
John knew that. Maybe that’s the best lesson we can learn this new year.