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 Psalm Ps 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.
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.
Meditation: 1 John 2:22-28
“Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.” (1 John 2:24)
Sometimes it’s only when some thing is taken away from us that we begin to see how precious it was. What, for instance, do you think would happen if every copy of the Bible were to disappear overnight? How would we teach our children about God’s love? How would we be able to understand God’s purposes in this world? Where would we turn for guidance and clarity in our lives?
Consider what St. John tells us in today’s first reading: “If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father” (1 John 2:24). John is saying that when we let the word of God—what we “heard from the beginning”—soak into us, we “remain” in the Son and the Father. We actually find our life in the very life of the Trinity! Our minds, our hearts, and our actions change to reflect Jesus and his ways.
Shortly after he became pope, Blessed John Paul II visited Poland, which was still under Communist rule. On the last day of his visit, dur ing an outdoor Mass attended by approximately two million people, the pope extended his hands over everyone there and quoted Scripture: ”Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). He went on: “I speak, too, from St. Paul: Do not quench the Spirit. I speak again from St. Paul: Do not grieve the Spirit. You must be strong, my brothers and sisters! You must be strong with the strength that faith gives you (1 Corinthians 16:13)… . Do not be defeated. Do not be discouraged (Joshua 1:9). Never detach yourselves from him (Romans 8:35).”
These words—all taken from Scripture—imparted a measure of hope and strength to the Polish people that far surpassed anyone’s expectations. As a result, a move ment was born that ultimately led to the defeat of Communism, not just in Poland but throughout the Soviet Union.
There is no telling what can hap pen when we immerse ourselves in the word of God. All it takes is a few minutes a day of reading and medi tating on a passage in Scripture. The Holy Spirit will bring these words to life, and our hearts will be changed!
“Father, teach me to remain in your word so that I can bear great fruit for your kingdom.”
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