DGEMs

“John the Baptist” – Mission: In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist proclaimed the Truth of the Coming Messiah, with great humility, courage and sincerity. Ponder on, “Like John, are we clear about and also committed to the purpose of our lives; to love, serve and glorifyGod? Pray for the grace to receive such inspiration from the Holy Spirit in our daily living.”

This was how John appeared as a witness. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ he declared, he did not deny but declared, ‘I am not the Christ.’

So they asked, ‘Then are you Elijah?’ He replied, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ so they said to him, ‘Who are you? We must take back an answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?’ So he said, ‘I am, as Isaiah prophesied: A voice of one that cries in the desert: Prepare a way for the Lord. Make his paths straight!’

Now those who had been sent were Pharisees, and they put this question to him, ‘Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the Prophet?’ John answered them, ‘I baptise with water; but standing among you -- unknown to you is the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandal.’ This happened at Bethany, on the far side of the Jordan, where John was baptising.