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, whereJohn was baptizing.

Reflect

Today’s Gospel is filledwith questions. Thereligious leaders come to John the Baptist,
asking who he is and why he does the things he is doing. Our lives as disciples are full
of similar questions. I ask myself: Who am I? To what mission is God calling me? How
can I proclaim the truth of Christ in my words and deeds? How can I love God more
deeply? How can I get to heaven? John’s answer caninform our answers as well. If we
humble ourselves, seeing Christ in those we meet and serving them, we will remain in
Christ. Our actions will give witness to the truths that we believe, speaking more loudly
than our words ever could. Despite the world’s values that exalt the individual, we know
that only in our relationship to Christ and his Body can we find meaning in our lives and
come to our destiny in heaven.


© Copyright Bible Diary 2022