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Keeping Watch: Day 15

SUNDAY, DEC 17

John 1:6-8, 19-28

A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.

And 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.

 

Grace: I ask for the grace to know Jesus in a deeper way that I may abundantly love and follow him.

The central theme of today’s reading is “testimony.” In verses 6-8, “testimony” or “testify” occurs three times to highlight John the Baptist’s role as a witness to the coming Messiah. The Greek word translated “testimony” and “testify” in the NAB is the same word from which we get the English word “martyr.” The Gospel notes that John came “to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him [Jesus].”

The verses 19-28 record the Baptist’s specific testimony to some religious leaders in Jerusalem who asked, “Who are you?” John answered this question with humility and complete self-awareness: “I am not the Messiah…. I am not Elijah…. I am not the Prophet.” When the religious leaders demanded to know John’s identity, he quotes the prophet Isaiah: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, Make straight the way of the Lord.” John refuses to accrue any notoriety or acclaim for himself. Finally, when questioned by the Pharisees about his practice of baptizing, John gives his most eloquent testimony to the coming Messiah: “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” John’s witness to Jesus would prove costly. He would eventually be killed for it.

Very few of us, if any, will suffer the same fate as John the Baptist for our allegiance to the Messiah. Each one of us, however, is called to bear witness in our own way to the “true light” that has come into the world [John 1:9]. John’s example of humble self-awareness and courageous faith are a beautiful example for us to follow.

 

For Reflection and Prayer:

What thoughts or feelings arise within you when you reflect on your life as a “testimony” or witness to the life and light of Jesus?

In what areas of your life do you struggle with “humble self-awareness” and/or “courageous faith”?

 


The Contributor:

Cliff Knighten, Ph.D. Candidate is a faculty member at Oblate School of Theology and the Institute for the Study of Christian Spirituality where he directs the Master of Arts in Spirituality degree program. Cliff earned a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies from Denver Seminary and completed a Master of Arts in Spirituality at Oblate School of Theology. He is also a trained spiritual director and a member of the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality and the American Academy of Religion.

Learn more about  Magis Ignatian Spirituality Programs


Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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