SATURDAY AFTER EPIPHANY JANUARY 8, 2022

MASS READINGS

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Jn 3:22-30

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings. So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.” John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ, but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”

REFLECTION

"The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. "

The best man is someone who takes care of many things for the groom. He is his right hand man. He usually is a best friend, childhood buddy, brother, cousin or other close relative. He stands by his side to support him, makes arrangements, assists him before and during the wedding.

As head groomsman, people go to him with questions, he helps and prepares the groomsmen for the wedding, takes care of arrangements, pays for the church and overall tidies up and takes care of things behind the scenes.

John the Baptist was the cousin of Jesus. He said to his disciples, "The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. "

It is unclear if they knew each other such as at family gatherings, if they played together or gathered for religious holidays. John leaped for joy in the womb when Mary visited his mother.

Yet, what we know of him is that he lived in the desert, ate locusts and honey, wore hair shirts, and prepared people for the Messiah. He hoped and worked for the coming of the Messiah. He preached boldly and did not hold back his comments.

When he finally saw and heard that the Messiah was here, he was filled with joy. He finally saw his work was not in vain. He had prepared well the people for the coming of the Lord. He had done his work, denied himself for God, and trusted in His promises. He would continue in the background til his work was completed.

Should we prepare the way of the Lord for our family, those who have left the church, the wayward child, challenging jobs, challenging people or foreign missionary workers? Never lose hope that God will reward us in the end if we remain faithful to Him and serve Him.

God Bless You