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Gospel Reading for January 11, 2025 – John 3: 22-30
GIVE WAY
Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings. So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan,
to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.” John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ, but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”
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If we were in the shoes of John the Baptist, having so many followers/admirers, would it have been as easy as it was for John, to GIVE WAY to Jesus?
What will make it difficult for us to GIVE WAY is when we think of ourselves BIG – that we are the best among the rest, and no one can surpass us in anything we do. Unfortunately, there will always be someone better than us because God gives gifts to others too. The only one who cannot be surpassed is the giver of gifts himself.
How important it is to discern our role in God’s plan of salvation so we may know where to go and when to GIVE WAY to others.
Lord Jesus, help us remember that we are called to GIVE WAY to you. You must increase and we must decrease!
