The Smaller The Gift, The Larger The Miracle

“When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Right of the bat we learn what moves the heart of Jesus: vastness or enormity and being without a shepherd. The hugeness of my lack draws him closer to me because of his merciful heart. When he realized that they had no shepherd, he immediately began to teach them many things. In my times of feeling far away or lost, he is able to teach me many things because it is in those times that I am searching for answers, and my searching makes me receptive to his teachings. When God’s merciful heart is engaged, in our huge lack and searching need, He just loves to go big. Jesus’ disciples were overwhelmed by the size of the crowd and wanted practicality to kick in. It’s getting late, let’s dismiss everyone so they can all go home and get some dinner and some sleep and we will come back tomorrow. Raise your hand if you are a “fixer.” You see a problem and you come up with 100 practical solutions for said problem. Jesus’ first miracle today is to cure that “fixer” thing in his disciples so as to activate their faith in the impossible. 

“Go get them some food yourselves.” How many times has Jesus answered my prayer in a way that seemed ridiculous? They responded with a clarifying question, “Are we to buy a hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?” We get to dialogue with God when He asks us to move. He loves to teach us when we are hungry. “How many loaves do you have? Go out and see.” The gift is already with you, but you need to go out and see it. In their obedience, they brought him back five loaves and two fish. This probably made Jesus so happy because the smaller the gift the larger the miracle. Let me say that again…the smaller the gift the larger the miracle. With their offering, he sat them down in small groups, and after people took their places, he looked up, he blessed their offering, he broke their offering, and he gave their offering back to them magnified in mercy. Mic drop. 

Our hunger, our vastness, and our smallness, move the heart of the one who loves loves loves to save us. In our deficiency, he longs to take what we have and increase it beyond what we ever thought possible. When we take our place among others who are also hungry, the use of our gifts multiplies, but only after it is blessed and broken. This is church: the hungry, the shepherd-less, the small, the lacking, the broken, the lost, and the searching. As we approach the altar of a new day, may we let our meager offering be amplified in His grace, and may our hunger for more of Him be what moves His heart to teach us many things. When God’s merciful heart is engaged, in our huge lack and searching need, He just loves to go big, and it is well with my soul. 

Reading 11 JN 4:7-10

Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only-begotten Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8

R. (see 11)  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king's son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Alleluia LK 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 6:34-44

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things. 
By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said,
"This is a deserted place and it is already very late. 
Dismiss them so that they can go 
to the surrounding farms and villages
and buy themselves something to eat." 
He said to them in reply,
"Give them some food yourselves." 
But they said to him,
"Are we to buy two hundred days' wages worth of food
and give it to them to eat?" 
He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?  Go and see." 
And when they had found out they said,
"Five loaves and two fish." 
So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. 
The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties. 
Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, 
he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples
to set before the people;
he also divided the two fish among them all. 
They all ate and were satisfied. 
And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments
and what was left of the fish. 
Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.

Overshadowed

“The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, and those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.” The word “overshadowed” was used in the book of Isaiah to describe the condition of a people that had been covered by sin and were living in darkness. The same word was used to describe Mary who would become pregnant by an eclipse of the Holy Spirit and give birth to the one that in turn would cover all our sin with his precious blood, and dispel that darkness. I feel like this word “overshadow” is important for us to ponder. Jesus shows us what “the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” is supposed to look like. First of all we must repent and turn our lives over to the will of God, saying no to the overshadowing of sin and trading it for the overshadowing of grace. This is the first step in “the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” I used to think that repentance was a one-time event and that was that, however, it truly is a daily, sometimes hourly decision. Choosing how to be overshadowed is a daily practice. 

After we turn our lives over to God’s will by standing in His unlimited grace, Jesus shows us what God’s plan is for us. He went around teaching, proclaiming the Gospel, curing every disease and illness. He became known for all these things and people began bringing every kind of illness to him including mental illness, chronic pain, paralysis, etc. These miraculous healings attracted people from all over and they became followers. This is the second step in “the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” I know I think of teaching, and preaching, and especially healing as being reserved for other people that are churchy, and preachy, and a little wild if I’m being honest. “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand” as, proclaimed by Jesus Christ means that after we repent, teaching, and preaching, and healing would be manifested through us as well. The evidence of Jesus Christ risen and present among us is signs and wonders and miracles. Our call is to be overshadowed by the grace that is meant for all of us and under that mantle, Jesus Christ will be birthed into the world, and he will heal every disease. When we receive this overshadowing with the same humility that Mary did, “be it done unto me according to your Word,” the Savior of the world is born from us and the evidence of it will be in the love we pour out. Love is the way for Jesus to live and move and have our being, and love is what gives us power and authority to live possessed by heaven and not by the world. 

I know for me I still put on sunscreen that blocks the complete overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. My sunscreen is named shame, or if they only knew what I’ve done, or self-hate, or doubt, or unbelief, or laziness, or fear. I try with all my heart to approach the overshadowing uncovered by these things, but it is a daily struggle. May today be the day that we come under the mantle of grace, open and ready to live a life according to our call. I want to say yes to the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit so that I can release the Savior into a world that so desperately needs him. I want to know that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in me and wants also to raise others from the dead, to heal every disease and illness, and to show mercy to everyone. I want to remove all the things that I choose to block this grace so that I can reflect the light of Christ into this world. Overshadow me, Holy Spirit, and it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 1 JN 3:22–4:6

Beloved:
We receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit whom he gave us.

Beloved, do not trust every spirit
but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God,
because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This is how you can know the Spirit of God:
every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh
belongs to God,
and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus
does not belong to God.
This is the spirit of the antichrist
who, as you heard, is to come,
but in fact is already in the world.
You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them,
for the one who is in you
is greater than the one who is in the world.
They belong to the world;
accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world,
and the world listens to them.
We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us,
while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us.
This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.

Responsorial Psalm PS 2:7BC-8, 10-12A

R. (8ab)  I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
The LORD said to me, "ou are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession."
R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

Alleluia SEE MT 4:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 4:12-17, 23-25

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee. 
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet 
might be fulfilled:

Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness
have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
"Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand."

He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people. 
His fame spread to all of Syria,
and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases
and racked with pain,
those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics,
and he cured them. 
And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea,
and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

Wise Guys Spirituality

Epiphany is one of my favorite days of the year because it is such a vivid story and it is packed full of morsels of spiritual food for us to ponder and live by.  The word epiphany means “a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.” Remember that the Magi were foreigners from the east with no background in the Jewish religion, but they were astronomers in tune with one of God’s most fascinating creations, the stars. I don’t know about you but there are two natural phenomena that immediately tattoo God’s existence onto my soul: the ocean and a starry night. The bigness of these two wonders pours over me like a long hug from someone that you haven’t seen in a while, or your first miraculous sip of hot coffee in the morning, or when you feel a dead loved one’s presence, or when you breathe in the fragrance of plumeria, or when your toes sink into warm sand on the beach, or when you hear your favorite person laugh. These wise guys were in love with the stars and one in particular had their undivided attention, so much so that they had to follow it. 

Wise Guys Spirituality Lesson #1:

l   They were looking for the LIGHT. It’s really important that we look for God in all things. Light is everywhere, however, we can choose to focus on the shadows, the darkness, or the lack of light in our lives if we want to. That’s what free will is and God will never force us to see him. He is constantly trying to get our attention, yes, but he waits for us to find him, knowing that when we do find him, we will also find the light that we so desperately need in our lives. I don’t know what tools these wise guys had to scan the universe looking for light, but they obviously were experts and had been practicing for quite some time. God wants us to practice looking for light in everything, even in our darkest times. One small beam in the dark can dispel our fears and doubts and once we adjust our spiritual eyes to focus on that light, soon the room will radiate with a gentle glow that helps us to see that God is indeed working. I am usually very good at finding the light in my darkest times, however, right now I am in need of a refresher course. I need to look for the LIGHT. 

Wise Guys Spirituality Lesson #2:

l   They were overjoyed when they saw the LIGHT. When we discover God in the places where we look for Him, we should celebrate! Joy is one of the signs that God is working in your life and I’ve heard it said that it is the primordial fruit from which all other fruits of the Spirit flow. If we are in the light we will shine, and when we shine we overflow with joy. One of the things that I am told most often is that I radiate joy, most especially when I am singing, and even though sometimes I don’t “feel” happy, joy is something that resonates much deeper inside. So rejoice when you find the light!

Wise Guys Spirituality Lesson #3:

l   They followed the LIGHT. The star was so amazing that they felt the need to follow it. It’s one thing to gaze at someone from afar and another thing to be in a relationship with them. Once we find God, and rejoice that we have found Him, we need to engage in a relationship. Relationships are exciting and terrifying at the same time. Any deep and lasting relationship is going to go through some intense times of feast or famine, and because God is limitless, being in an intimate relationship may seem overwhelming, too mysterious, and like an imaginary friend at times. He uses our earthly friendships to mirror eternal love sometimes, but our earthly friendships will fall short. It is important to keep our eyes fixed on the light of His love that never fades or goes out, most especially when our worldly friends abandon us. To follow something means to keep walking toward or after it, so in times of abandon, put one foot in front of the other and walk toward the light. Easier said than done, but do it anyway!

Wise Guys Spirituality Lesson #4:

l   They gave praise to God while under the LIGHT. Once they reached the star and stood under it’s mantle, they bowed down in adoration at the sight of the light. When we finally reach the light and stand in the presence of God’s workings, we should praise Him with all that we have. I love praying while prostrated in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It is the most humble position and it physically describes the posture of our souls in relation to God. Never have I ever not cried at an ordination when the men prostrate themselves before the altar. The wise guys prostrated themselves at the sight of Jesus and we should as well. 

Wise Guys Spirituality Lesson #5:

l   They gave their gifts to God because of the LIGHT. Once we look for God, discover Him, rejoice in our discovery, enter into a relationship with Him, and praise Him with all that we have we will be compelled to give our gifts back to Him. Our gifts become more evident as our intimacy with God grows. Once we embrace our gifts, we will have no choice but to give them away, because the only value of a gift is when it is given away. Living in the light illuminates the things that we are to give. The wise guys were not stingy either. Their gifts were so valuable and Mary and Joseph could have lived on them for 3-4 years, which worked out pretty well when they had to flee to Egypt. We need to give our gifts away lavishly because they have been lavishly given to us. 

Wise Guys Spirituality Lesson #6:

l   They went home a different way. Once we look for God, discover Him, rejoice in our discovery, enter into a relationship with Him, praise Him with all that we have, and give away our gifts lavishly, we will be transformed. The narrative says that they went home a different way and yes that means an alternate route literally, but it also means that they were different because of the experience. Light transforms a room depending on its nature, i.e. Candlelight, fluorescent light, daylight, etc. A relationship with Christ will also transform our hearts depending on the depth of it. Let’s be different this year because we have seen His light in our lives. 

I know today’s reflection is a longer than usual, but hopefully an epiphany will illuminate something in each one of us so that we can look up and see that we are standing in the LIGHT, and it is well with my soul. 

The Epiphany of the Lord
Lectionary: 20

Reading 1 IS 60:1-6

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem!  Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13.

R. (cf. 11)  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king's son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Reading 2 EPH 3:2-3A, 5-6

Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God's grace 
that was given to me for your benefit, 
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations 
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Alleluia MT 2:2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod, 
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 
"Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage."
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled, 
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, 
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, 
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel."
Then Herod called the magi secretly 
and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 
"Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word, 
that I too may go and do him homage."
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, 
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures 
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 
they departed for their country by another way.

What Are You Looking For?

I once wrote, “essentially, Christian leaders are bridge builders, but even the thought of building a bridge might be too complicated. I’ve always pictured it like this….I hold the hand of Jesus and I hold the hand of the person I love, or serve, or that I am called to lead. After holding both hands for a specific amount of time, it becomes clear when I am to join their hands together and simply step out of the way.” Today’s gospel is the scene when John the Baptist joins Andrew’s hand to Jesus and then he steps out of the way. John’s disciples had been hearing about this mystery Messiah that was going to show up soon because John had been carrying on and on about it so vehemently. Alright, we get it already, you’re not the Messiah, you’re not even worthy to untie his sandals, he ranks ahead of you, blah, blah, blah, and we can’t wait to meet him!!! Then, on cue, Jesus walks by! This just makes me laugh. Have you ever been talking about someone and they show up on the scene!! Sometimes it’s awkward, but most of the times it is a fun surprise, “Hey, we were just talking about you!!” “Behold, the Lamb of God.” I bet that was John’s favorite utterance in his ministry. Look, I told you he was coming, and there he is. This must have been a great sigh of relief for John and I’m sure it tamed any doubts in his head. When John’s disciples heard this, they started following him. I can just imagine Jesus chuckling at the scenario. It’s not like he didn’t hear John say, “Behold, the Lamb of God,” John was not such a soft-spoken character. I wonder how long he let them follow before he turned and said, “What are you looking for?” Their answer, “Rabbi.” They wanted to be taught and so he invited them to come and stay with him. Once he started teaching them, they knew for themselves what John had been saying was true, and they wanted to share him with their loved ones. Jesus accepted Simon in and changed his name because he would no longer be the same. 

This is a glimpse into conversion. A bold witness gives testimony as to who Jesus is in their life, others are compelled to follow him, Jesus invites them in and starts a relationship, they bring others to Jesus, and Jesus changes their names. We are all called to do what John the Baptist did: proclaim Jesus as the Savior. Each one of us is called to proclaim Messiah in our own unique way. People will start to crave what you have: peace, joy, light, goodness, kindness, love, etc. They will recognize Jesus walking among them, and they will seek him out. They will spend time with him, and then they will proclaim him as Savior. It’s not very complicated, but I know that I miss these simple opportunities everyday. Today, I’m reminded that I see Jesus walking by all the time and I do not declare, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” Jesus is in each and every person we meet (and in each one of us). May we recognize him today so that we can be changed. Jesus asks us, what are you looking for? What new name does he give you this day? Jen, you will now be called, Joy, translated My Laughter. And it is well with my soul. 

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious
Lectionary: 207

Reading 1 1 JN 3:7-10

Children, let no one deceive you. 
The person who acts in righteousness is righteous,
just as he is righteous. 
Whoever sins belongs to the Devil,
because the Devil has sinned from the beginning. 
Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil. 
No one who is begotten by God commits sin,
because God's seed remains in him;
he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. 
In this way,
the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain;
no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God,
nor anyone who does not love his brother.

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 7-8, 9

R. (3cd)  All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy before the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD comes;
he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Alleluia HEB 1:1-2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets:
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 1:35-42

John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God."
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
"What are you looking for?"
They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher),
"where are you staying?"
He said to them, "Come, and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
"We have found the Messiah," which is translated Christ.
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,
"You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas," which is translated Peter.

Not The Savior

The thing I love about John the Baptist is that he spent his entire life pointing us to Christ. Even as an unborn child, leaping in his mother’s womb, he proclaimed, “Look everyone, there is the Christ, he’s the Savior, he’s the One, he’s Messiah….NOT me!!!” John was dynamic and charismatic with lots of “followers” that wanted him to be Messiah. He never once mistook himself for anyone’s redeemer. Raise your hand if you have ever felt like you were a mini savior and if you just love that friend or that spouse or that person in distress or that lost one or that sick person well enough, they will be saved. Unfortunately, my hand is in the air on all accounts of possessing a savior complex. Ugh. John shows us how to be bold, but humble, wild, but grounded, charismatic, but not the focus, free, but not reckless, and completely aware that Jesus is the savior and we are not. John did not hide his gifts or downplay his strengths because people had him mistaken for the Messiah, but he used those gifts to preach that Jesus was the one that would do all the saving, all the healing, all the miraculous, all the delivering, all the amazing, and he was just the voice telling them to get ready for it. He emphasized that he was the voice in the desert. The desert was where the super sinners would go, the sick, the mentally ill, and the ones that deserved to live in exile. These are the peeps that not only needed to hear that Messiah was coming, but that John also identified with…WE ALL LIVE IN THE DESERT AND ARE IN NEED OF THE SAVIOR. 

Being concerned with each other’s identity has been an obsession since the beginning of time. At dinner parties we ask each other, “So, what do you do?” or when we talk about one another we say things like, “Who does she think she is?” Our identity is what gives us our self worth and it is the first thing that the enemy wants to attack because if we are confused about who we are, then he has a foothold to start telling us lies about who we are. John the Baptist gives us a good standard today to start with, “I am not the Christ.” Humility will lead us to our real identity and that is “I am the voice crying out in the desert, Jesus come save me. I am yours and you are mine.” John was one feisty and outrageous guy, but what does my desert voice sound like? How am I making straight the way of the Lord? How am I using my gifts to point others to Christ? How am I announcing the gospel? When people mistake me for being able to do anything amazing, do I remind them, that only Jesus saves? 

Today John, the leaping unborn baby and the wild dude in the desert, reminds us to step out of the way and let Jesus do his favorite thing…saving us. I don’t know about you, but that certainly takes the pressure off of me to think for one second that I can do anything apart from Him. I am not the Christ, but I’d love to tell you all about Him and it is well with my soul.

Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church
Lectionary: 205

Reading 1 1 JN 2:22-28

Beloved:
Who is the liar? 
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. 
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. 
Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.

Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. 
If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. 
And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. 
I write you these things about those who would deceive you. 
As for you,
the anointing that you received from him remains in you,
so that you do not need anyone to teach you. 
But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; 
just as it taught you, remain in him.

And now, children, remain in him,
so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming.

Responsorial PsalmPS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4

R. (3cd)  All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R.  All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Alleluia HEB 1:1-2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In times, past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets:
in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 1:19-28

This is the testimony of John. 
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, "Who are you?"
He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted,
"I am not the Christ." 
So they asked him,
"What are you then? Are you Elijah?" 
And he said, "I am not." 
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No." 
So they said to him,
"Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? 
What do you have to say for yourself?"
He said:
"I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
'Make straight the way of the Lord,'
as Isaiah the prophet said." 
Some Pharisees were also sent. 
They asked him,
"Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?" 
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.