Si Kristo sa tunga ninyo

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Juan 1:19-28)

Huwebes (Enero 2)

Ang mga pangulo sang mga Judio sa Jerusalem nagpadala sing mga pari kag mga Levita sa pagpamangkot kay Juan kon sin-o sia.

Si Juan nagsabat kag nagpahayag nga wala sing lipudlipod, "Indi ako ang Cristo."

Ginpamangkot nila sia, "Kon amo, sin-o ka? Ikaw bala si Elias?" Nagsabat si Juan, "Indi ako si Elias." Nagpamangkot sila, "Ikaw bala ang Propeta?" Nagsabat si Juan, "Indi."

Nagsiling sila, "Sugiri kami kon sin-o ka agod may isabat kami sa mga nagpadala sa amon. Ano ang masiling mo nahanungod sa imo kaugalingon?"

Si Juan nagsabat: "Ako amo 'ang tingog sang isa Nga nagasinggit sa desierto: Maghimo kamo sing tadlong nga dalan Nga pagaagyan sang Ginoo!' " (Amo ini ang ginsiling ni Isaias nga propeta.)

Ini nga mga sinugo ginpadala sang mga Fariseo.

Ginpamangkot nila si Juan, "Kon indi ikaw ang Cristo, ukon si Elias ukon ang Propeta, ngaa bala nga nagapangbautiso ka?"

Nagsabat si Juan, "Ako nagapangbautiso sa tubig, pero sa tunga ninyo may isa nga wala ninyo makilala.

Ulihi lang siya sa akon, pero indi ako takos sa paghubad sang higot sang iya sandalyas."

Ini tanan nahanabo sa Betania, sa tabok sang Suba sang Jordan sa diin nagapangbautiso si Juan.

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus Christ, make me a herald of your word of truth and grace. Help me to be a faithful witness of the joy of the gospel and to point others to you as John did through his testimony."

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

Do you recognize the presence of the Lord Jesus in your life? John the Baptist did such a great job of stirring the peoples’ expectation of the Messiah’s arrival, that many thought he might be the Messiah himself, or at least the great prophet Elijah who was expected to reappear at the Messiah’s coming (see Malachi 4:5, Deuteronomy 18:15). John had no mistaken identity. In all humility and sincerity he said he was only a voice bidding people to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah King. John the Baptist bridges the Old and New Testaments. He is the last of the Old Testament Prophets who points the way to the Messiah. He is the first of the New Testament witnesses and martyrs. He is the herald who prepares the way for Jesus and who announces his mission to the people: Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! John saw from a distance what the Messiah came to accomplish – our redemption from slavery to sin and our adoption as sons and daughters of God, our heavenly Father. Do you recognize your identity as an adopted child of God and a citizen of God's heavenly kingdom?

John was the greatest of the prophets, yet he lived as a humble and faithful servant of God. He pointed others to Jesus, the Messiah and Savior of the world. The Christian church from the earliest of times has given John many titles which signify his prophetic mission: Witness of the Lord, Trumpet of Heaven, Herald of Christ, Voice of the Word, Precursor of Truth, Friend of the Bridegroom, Crown of the Prophets, Forerunner of the Redeemer, Preparer of Salvation, Light of the Martyrs, and Servant of the Word. Do you point others to Jesus Christ by the testimony of your witness and example?