Saturday after Epiphany : 11th January 2025

Listen to the response of John the Baptist to his disciples, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven”! His words exude a positive and confident attitude without any jealousy to hearing reports of Jesus’ having more followers.  It speaks of his conviction of his duty to herald the coming of Christ as a God given mission. Hence, John the Baptist remains faithful to his vocation, calling people to repent and be prepared for the coming of Christ, whom John says he is “unfit to untie the sandals of” and that “He must increase,” while John must decrease. This mantra “He must increase while I decrease”, could be the best antidote when envy tempts us.

We are baptised in Christ, the evil of jealousy should have no power over us. The psalmist’s assurance that the Lord takes delight in His people is similar to St John’s invitation for us to deepen our trust and confidence in God as we approach Him in prayer and not in envy.

John the Baptist recognises that the time has come for him to let Jesus, the true Messiah, lead the repentant people. Jesus, now the Bridegroom of the Church, fulfilled the true joy of John the Baptist’s vision of a relationship without envy. We recall that joy when Mary visited Elizabeth, John’s mother. It’s a deep joy born in the womb (Lk 1: 41).

Lord, grant me joy and acceptance to truly appreciate the gift and talents of others to build Your kingdom, and not see them as rivalry.