Two voices and moves

Daily Catholic Lectio (Friday, 6 January 2023)

Christmas Weekday of January 6

(First Reading: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Gospel Reading: Mk 1:7-11)

 

Two voices and moves

 

In the gospel reading we hear two voices: (i) the voice of John the Baptist preaching to the people about ‘the mightier one who comes after’; and (ii) the voice from heaven proclaiming, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” The first voice is directed to people, and the second voice is directed to Jesus. Both voices communicate to us who Jesus is. Jesus is mightier than John the Baptist because He will baptize with the Holy Spirit. And He is the beloved Son. 

 

What is the voice within me that calls out to Jesus or calls out about Jesus? How do I describe Jesus? With what words I would announce about Jesus?

 

The gospel reading also presents before us two movements of Jesus: First, Mark records that Jesus ‘came from Nazareth of Galilee.’ This movement of Jesus is very remarkable because this opens his public life and ministry. His entire life will be hereafter towards Jerusalem of Judea. Second, Jesus ‘came up out of the water’ after being baptized by John the Baptist. Jesus sees heavens being torn open, and hears a voice. The voice announces that Jesus is the beloved Son. Jesus is no more ‘son of Joseph or Mary.’ He now is the ‘Son of God the Father.’ All along his life He will be mocked at, misunderstood, and questioned on these two identities. 

 

It takes a lot of courage to move, to move from our place of origin and belonging, and to move out of the water that comforts and hides us. Baptism is the foundational experience for Jesus, where it is asserted that he is the beloved Son, and pleased in the eyes of God. 

 

Reflect today, what our identity is. Do we identify ourselves with our name, origin, nationality, religion, language, qualification, profession, and vocation? Or are we able to discover the greater identity of being a beloved son / daughter of God? The discovery of this greater identity will lead us to embrace everyone as brother and sister.

 

In the first reading (cf. 1 Jn  5:5-13) says, ‘three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood.’ If we read from behind, John the Baptist, in flesh and blood, testifies to Jesus that he is mightier, the baptismal water testifies that Jesus humbled himself to embrace our sinful nature which needs purification by baptismal water, and the Spirit which testifies that Jesus is the beloved Son. 

 

Let us ask, ‘what is our testimony about Jesus?’ and ‘How does God testify to us?’