1.01.14

                 

Lectio: Jn 1.19-28                                                                                 

Meditatio: “He [John the Baptist] said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the desert. Make straight the way of the Lord’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Jn 1.23
                  
Oratio: O God, You revealed clearly to the Jews the identity of John the Baptist and his mission by John’s own testimony as to he is and what his mission was all about - but still they refused to admit the obvious when John identified Jesus as the Messiah. How tragic for them and for the people they served!

I remember John recorded for us the questioning of the priests and Levites of John the Baptist as to his identity and John gave a very straightforward answer that he was not the Messiah but was preparing the way for the Messiah. They refused to believe him and his mission and ignored his later identifying of Jesus as the Messiah - how sad when pride gets in the way of truth.           

Grant that I may always have an open mind and accept the things of God that the Church proclaims about God for the Church is Christ’s voice on earth. .

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God,  forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what
God is saying to you.

Operatio: reflect: “I...voice... crying out...way of the Lord;” John the Baptist proclaimed his role as one of preparing the way for the Messiah and he made it clear that he was not the Messiah. In prayer seek the grace to follow the example of John and do our part to prepare the way for others whose lives we touch and who do not yet know the Lord so that they will not miss out on the most important invitation to become  children of God and heirs of heaven.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 1.29-34                                          
P.S. May you and yours have a healthy, holy and happy New Year!