Sang makahalin na ang mga ginsugo ni Juan, nagpamangkot si Jesus sa mga tawo, "Sang pagkadto ninyo kay Juan sa kamingawan, ano ang inyo ginapaabot nga makita? Nagkadto bala kamo didto agod makita ninyo ang tawo nga nagapaayon-ayon lang pareho sang kugon nga ginahapay-hapay sang hangin?
Ukon nagkadto bala kamo didto agod makita ninyo ang tawo nga nagabayo sang malahalon? Pero ang mga tawo nga nagabayo sang malahalon kag nagapagusto sang ila pangabuhi nagaestar sa mga palasyo.
Abi sugiri ninyo ako kon ngaa nagkadto kamo didto. Indi bala para makita ninyo ang propeta sang Dios? Huo, kag labaw pa gani siya sa propeta.
Kay siya amo ang ginasiling sang Dios sa Kasulatan, 'Ipadala ko ang akon manugbalita una sa imo sa pagpreparar sang imo alagyan.' "
Nagsiling pa gid si Jesus, "Sa pagkamatuod, hasta karon wala pa gid sing may natawo sa kalibutan nga maglabaw pa kay Juan. Pero karon ang bisan sin-o nga labing kubos sa mga nagapasakop sa paghari sang Dios mas labaw pa kay Juan."
Pagkabati sang mga tawo, pati sang mga manugsukot sang buhis sa mga pagpanudlo ni Jesus, nagkomporme sila sa ginapahimo sang Dios, kay ini sila nagpabautiso na kay Juan.
Pero ang mga Pariseo kag ang mga manunudlo sang Kasuguan wala nagkomporme sa katuyuan sang Dios para sa ila, kay ini sila wala magpabautiso kay Juan.
Prayers:
"Lord, let your light burn brightly in my heart that I may know the joy
and freedom of your kingdom. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and empower
me to witness the truth of your gospel and to point others to Jesus
Christ."
***
Reflection of the Daily Gospel:
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of God? Jesus praised John the Baptist as the greatest person born. Who can top that as a compliment? But in the same breath Jesus says that the least in the kingdom of God is even greater than John! That sounds like a contradiction, right? Unless you understand that what Jesus was about to accomplish for our sake would supercede all that the prophets had done and foreseen. John is the last and greatest of the prophets of the old covenant. He fulfilled the essential task of all the prophets – to be fingers pointing to Christ, God's Annointed Son and Messiah. John proclaimed Jesus' mission at the River Jordan when he exclaimed, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). John saw from a distance what Jesus would accomplish through his death on the cross – our redemption from bondage to sin and death and our adoption as sons and daughers of God and citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
Why did Jesus say that John the Baptist was more than a prophet? John was the voice of the Consoler who is coming (John 1:23; Isaiah 40:1-3). He completed the cycle of prophets begun by Elijah (Matt. 11:13-14). What the prophets had carefully searched for and angels longed to see, now came to completion as John made the way ready for the coming of the Messiah, God's Anointed Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. With John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit begins the restoration to the human race of the "divine likeness", prefiguring what would be achieved with and in the Lord Jesus. John's baptism was for repentance – turning away from sin and taking on a new way of life according to God's word. Our baptism in Jesus Christ by water and the Spirit results in a new birth and entry into God's kingdom as his beloved sons and daughters (John 3:5). Jesus is ready to give us the fire of his Spirit that we may radiate the joy and truth of the gospel to a world in desperate need of God's light and truth. His word has power to change and transform our lives that we may be lights pointing others to Christ. Like John the Baptist, we too are called to give testimony to the light and truth of Jesus Christ. Do you point others to Christ in the way you live, work, and speak?
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