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Death can come at any minute, in any way. We do not know what is in store tomorrow, or, whether there is a tomorrow, or even a tonight! But still, we have the golden present. Now we are alive and kicking. What should we do now? Love all, serve all.
- Mystic saying
(Not a bad new year’s resolution.) |
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1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
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.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture |
Who are you?" –John
1:19
Throughout this year, we will be continually challenged with the question: "Who are you?" The best answer is: "I am a part of the body of Christ" (see Rm 12:5; 1 Cor 12:13). Our true identity is based on our relationship with Christ (see Col 2:17).
An even better answer is to state the specific
part of the body of Christ which you are. For example, John the Baptizer said he was a voice in Christ's body (Jn 1:23). You may be Christ's feet, hands, ears, or mind. It's ideal to know not only which part of Christ's body you are but also how the Lord primarily works through you. A voice can do several things – teach, sell, threaten, encourage, warn, etc. John knew that the main thing the Lord did through his voice was to cry out: "Make straight the way of the Lord!" (Jn
1:23)
Who are you? Who are you not? Which part of Christ's body are you? What is the primary way the Lord works through you? If, by the Spirit, you can answer these questions, you will know yourself as John the Baptizer knew himself. This will put you in the position to be used mightily by the Lord as John was. If you know who you are in Christ, this can be the greatest year of your life. Commit your
life to Jesus and let the Spirit teach you (Jn 14:26).
PRAYER: Father, may I know myself in Jesus and love myself in the Spirit.
PROMISE: "He Himself made us a promise and the
promise is no less than this: eternal life." –1 Jn 2:25
mycatholic.com
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Theological Gems from Emile Merch's Theology of the Mystical Body - selected by Jim and Tyra Arraj
Book III: Christ
Chapter 13: Revelation and the Trinity
390. There is a single or a twofold "I" in Christ: there is one subject who is this "I," yet He, because of His two distinct natures, expresses this subject in two different ways.
391. We have to hold that there is only one consciousness in God, because He has but one nature. But since there are three
persons in God, we have to say there are three ultimate and distinct subjects who know themselves and are conscious; in this sense the divine consciousness is threefold.
We may say there are three conscious relations, or a triple consciousness of the relations, in this one absolute consciousness.
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