and did not deny it. He said, “I am not the Messiah.”
And they asked him, “Then who are you? Elijah?” He answered, “I am not.” They said,
“Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Tell us who you are,
so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?” And John said,
quoting the prophet Isaiah, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord!”
Those who had been sent were Pharisees; and they put a further question to John,
“Then why are you baptizing, if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”
John answered, “I baptize you with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know;
although he comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.”
This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day,
John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
LECTIO DIVINA:
Read: On Gaudete Sunday (Rejoice Sunday) is the day of great joy in the season of Advent,
a season of joyful expectation for the birth of the Messiah.
The violet vestment of Advent is replaced with the Rose Vestment to express the spirit of this Sunday.
The 1st reading brings us to the celebration of the Jubilee in the Old Testament, a day of liberation.
The responsorial Psalm has the song of Mary who exults in the mercy of God from generation to generation.
The 2nd reading picks up the theme and invites all “Rejoice always!” The reason for this great rejoicing is, of course,
the announcement of John the Baptist that the God of mercy is already in town!
For us who commemorate the Nativity of Jesus we can already feel the spirit of Christmas just around the corner.
Reflect: The Rose color (old rose, actually) is the color of faithful love,
persevering love just as a red rose is the color of a passionate and young love.
With the old rose color we are happily reminded that the love of God is from eternity as His mercy is from eternity.
The God who is gracious and merciful, the meaning of the name “John,” is “so eager to be with us”.
The “Emmanuel” (God with us) is near!
Pray: This Sunday speaks about the joy of God to be with us. Are we equally so eager to have God with us? We sing “O come,
O come, Emmanuel . . .!”
Act: On this Sunday we let the Blessed Virgin Mother teach us how to anticipate the birth of our Savior.
The Magnificat would be a nice prayer to contemplate.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2020