Tuesday,
December 16, 2014
3rd Week of Advent
1st Reading:
Is 56:1-3, 6-8
Gospel: John 5:33-36
Jesus said to the Jews, “John also bore witness to the truth when you sent messengers to him, but I do not seek such human testimony; I recall this for you, so that you may be saved.
“John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were willing to enjoy his light. But I have greater evidence than that of John – the works which the Father entrusted to me to carry out. The very works I do bear witness: the Father has sent me.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the
Assimilated Life
Experience)
In describing John the Baptist as “a burning and shining lamp”, today’s Gospel reading presents him as the template of Christian witnessing. We are all called to let our light shine so that seeing our good works people may find their way to God. We can learn a lot from John the Baptizer. He dedicated his whole life to preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah. He preached to them, baptized them and pointed to them the Lamb of God. He lived in the desert, maintained a frugal diet and lived an ascetic life to concentrate on his mission.
Because his life was consistent with his message, he became a shining witness that edified the people. Because of his integrity he became a credible witness of the Messiah. No less than the Messiah himself confirmed him with the highest affirmation saying: “John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were willing to enjoy his light.”
John the Baptist’s testimony was crucial to the establishment of Jesus’ credentials. In Jewish tradition, truth had to stand on the testimony of at least two unimpeachable witnesses. John’s testimony corroborating Jesus’ claim, would have complied with the requirement, except that the Jews assailed the testimony of Jesus as self-serving. Yet Jesus had works to substantiate his testimony. “The works I do bear witness that the Father has sent me.” On the strength of John’s testimony backed up by good works and of Jesus’ own testimony substantiated by works attributed to a Messiah, Jesus’ identity was established.
Fast-paced technology spews smoke that beclouds today Jesus’ identity. With John the Baptist gone, the duty to make Jesus known has fallen upon Christians. As with John the Baptist, our testimony would be credible if backed up by works of faith and charity. More than ever the need to let our light shine comes forcefully at this time when the smoke blanketing Jesus’ identity is getting thicker as technology is getting faster. May others also enjoy our light and find their way to God. – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email:[email protected]. Website: www.frdan.org.
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