Friday, January 3, 2003

Before Epiphany
1st Reading: 1 Jn 2:29-3:6

Gospel: Jn 1:29-34

John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, "There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. It is he of whom I said: A man comes after me who is already ahead of me, for he was before me. I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing to prepare for him, so that he might be revealed in Israel."

And John also gave this testimony, "I saw the Spirit coming down on him like a dove from heaven and resting on him. I myself did not know him but God who sent me to baptize told me: 'You will see the Spirit coming down and resting on the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' Yes, I have seen! and I declare that this is the Chosen One of God."

Gospel Commentary

John the Baptist is once again pointing away from himself to the Son of God now among us! "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" Moreover, John also deepens our understanding of who Jesus, this One-who-is-to-come who has come, is. "I saw the Spirit coming down on him like a dove from heaven and resting on him," he adds. First, the dove-like form of the Spirit reminds us of the dove sent out by Noah from the ark, which returned with the branch that announced that the world, destroyed by the flood, was born anew. Thus, John tells us that Jesus is the beginning of the new creation. Secondly, the fact that John sees the Spirit remain upon Jesus tells us that Jesus is truly the Christ-a Greek word that means "the anointed"-the One anointed with the fullness of God's Spirit of life and love. This is who Jesus is: the One who bears the Spirit permanently and whose mission is to share his Spirit, his very life and energy, as it were, with us. This is Good News for us, especially during times when our energies and our expectations run low, when we feel incapable of loving, when our hearts feel dry and hard.

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