The First Proclamation Please read 1 John 5/14-21 prayerfully.
The Gospel Proclamation After this Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came and were baptized. For John had not yet been put in prison. Now a discussion arose between John’s disciples and a Jew over purifying. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, here he is, baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice; therefore this joy of mine is now full. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Fix your gaze on Jesus Jesus, the Son of Man, who has come to give us eternal life is truly the Son of God for John confirms this fact, when he says: “No one can receive anything unless it is given him from above. It is to him that I have come to bear witness and prepare you for his coming. Now my joy is full for he has come and now I must decrease and let him increase.”
Prayerful Awareness We see very clearly that the evil one is out to bring disunity, discord, dissension and make an attempt to create chaos. An attempt here is made to bring about a dispute between John’s disciples and the disciples of Jesus by the Jews. This is clear, when they say - “Rabbi He who was with you beyond Jordan and to whom you bore witness is now baptizing and many are going to him” but John fully aware and conscious of God’s ways and plans calmed them saying “The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hear him rejoices. My joy is now full. Have I not told you, that I have come to prepare the way for Christ. I am not Christ. He must increase and I must decrease.” Let us like John the Baptist be always open to God and allow God’s plan and will to take place and let us not fall a prey to the snares of the evil one. Let us watch and pray.
Prayer Starter Great is our Lord, abundant in power for, His ways are wonderful and beyond measure. Let us praise and thank Him for He has uplifted the lowly and the downtrodden. Amen.
