From the responsorial psalm: “Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 1:19-28)
John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.”
Today’s Gospel begins with priests and Levites questioning John the Baptist about his identity. John denies that he is the Christ or Elijah. When they ask him if he is the Prophet, he says no, and they then ask him who he is so they can share the answer with those who sent them. John replies, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” John knows exactly who he is in relation to the Old Testament and to Jesus; in truth, his self-identification is akin to God’s when Moses asks him who he should say he is: “I am who I am.” As John refers to Jesus as the one among them whom they do not recognize, the greatest of prophets accepts his role in relation to Jesus with complete humility and unworthiness.
God, help me discern and understand what genuine humility is in relation to you. Help me also give little credence to the modern-day understanding of humility and its association with shame, as a symptom of poor mental health. You are God and I am not. That is exactly what John said of Jesus, which gives him his rank among the greatest prophets and saints. John recognized the divinity of Jesus and because of that knew himself and his role in the salvation of humanity. Give me the grace to do the same—to recognize that true greatness is to grow in the knowledge that who I truly am, I am through Christ. Saints Basil and Gregory, pray for us!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.