Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: January 2, 2025

Date: Memorial of St. Basil the Great & St. Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops & Doctors of the Church

Scripture Text: John 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.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today recounts John the Baptist’s responses when questioned about who he was. John the Baptist knew his role in the LORD’s salvation mission; he knew He was not the savior but rather the herald of the savior to come.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I know my role in the LORD’s ongoing mission of salvation? What is the LORD calling me to do for love of Him and love of others?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You are love itself and You desire for us, your daughters and sons, life in abundance with You. You sent your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to dwell among us as our brother and to reveal your great love for us most perfectly realized in His selfless sacrifice for our salvation upon the cross of Calvary. During this holy season of Christmas, as we celebrate once again the gift of your Son, send your Spirit to stir within us and to awaken within us our commitment to You and to your will. Grant that we may strive to grow closer to You day by day and that we may discern our roles in your ongoing mission of salvation. We ask this in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.