You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ Only the bridegroom has the bride; but the friend of the bridegroom stands by and listens, and rejoices to hear the bridegroom’s voice.
My joy is now full. It is necessary that he increase, but that I decrease.

REFLECTION:

It is not the merit of the teacher when his or her students remain students forever. But if the teacher is surpassed, that is because he or she is a very good teacher. Thus we can understand why John rejoiced in knowing that
the One whom he baptized is now baptizing Himself. A lesser man would have felt threatened. But luckily John was no ordinary man. The clarity of his purpose allowed him to accept the part of a second fiddle without bitterness or
rancor. If we know who we are and what is our role in life, it will save us from a lot of heartaches and unnecessary desires. John was freed from ordinary human pettiness because of his self-knowledge. We too can do the same by
struggling to know who we really are.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2021