Jesus came into the world to save us from sin and lead us to the Father. He alone is the holy One, He alone is the Lord. From Him and through Him and for Him all things are (Rom 11:36). No one goes to the Father except through Him (Jn 14:6). He is the way, and the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6). Ultimately, He will be “all in all” (1 Cor 15:28). Yet Jesus praises John the Baptist, saying that among those born of women, there is none greater than John. That is high praise from the King of Heaven!
John is the last prophet of the Old Testament and the first prophet of the New; from his mother’s womb, he rejoiced at the presence of the Savior in the world. Later, he would explain his true joy by saying, “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” (Jn 1:29-30).
His whole life was a mission to announce the coming of the Savior of the World, and he emptied himself completely in order to fulfill this mission, proclaimed before his conception and confirmed by the words of his father, Zechariah: “You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his way” (Lk 1:76-79). John the Baptist summarized his position and his mission by saying, “He must increase, I must decrease” (Jn 1:30).
While Jesus praises John, he says that “the least in the Kingdom of Heaven” are greater than he is, reminding us of the glory to which each of us are called. We are reminded that in order to become great in the Kingdom, we must decrease so that we are better able to proclaim the One Who IS the Way, the Truth, and the Life! It is not about me, but about HIM. I cannot save anyone from anything. He can save everyone from everything that obstructs the way or the light. I am small and weak, but if I allow what is not of Him to decrease and fade away, His power and strength increase in and through me.
During Advent, we are called to look to the Gift that is given and prepare ourselves to receive the One Who can do all things, Who makes all things new. Let us pray for the grace to let go of our selfward selves so that our spiritual arms are free to fully embrace Him.
Jesús vino al mundo para salvarnos del pecado y guiarnos al Padre. Solo Él es el Santo, solo Él es el Señor. De Él, por Él y para Él son todas las cosas (Rom 11,36). Nadie va al Padre sino por Él (Jn 14,6). Él es el camino, la verdad y la vida (Jn 14,6). Finalmente, Él será “todo en todos” (1 Cor 15,28). Sin embargo, Jesús alaba a Juan el Bautista, diciendo que entre los nacidos de mujer, no hay nadie mayor que Juan. ¡Esa es una gran alabanza del Rey del Cielo!
Juan es el último profeta del Antiguo Testamento y el primer profeta del Nuevo Testamento; desde el vientre de su madre, se regocijó con la presencia del Salvador en el mundo. Más tarde, explicaría su verdadera alegría diciendo: “El que tiene a la novia es el novio; el padrino, que está de pie y lo escucha, se alegra enormemente con la voz del novio. Así se ha cumplido mi alegría” (Jn 1,29-30).
Toda su vida fue una misión para anunciar la venida del Salvador del mundo, y se entregó por completo para cumplir esta misión, proclamada antes de su concepción y confirmada por las palabras de su padre, Zacarías: “Tú, hijo mío, serás llamado profeta del Altísimo, porque irás delante del Señor para preparar su camino” (Lc 1,76-79). Juan el Bautista resumió su posición y su misión diciendo: “Es necesario que él crezca, y que yo disminuya” (Jn 1,30).
Mientras Jesús alaba a Juan, dice que “el más pequeño en el Reino de los Cielos” es mayor que él, recordándonos la gloria a la que cada uno de nosotros está llamado. Se nos recuerda que, para alcanzar la grandeza en el Reino, debemos disminuir para poder proclamar mejor a Aquel que ES el Camino, la Verdad y la Vida. No se trata de mí, sino de ÉL. Yo no puedo salvar a nadie de nada. Él puede salvar a todos de todo lo que obstruye el camino o la luz. Soy pequeño y débil, pero si permito que lo que no es de Él disminuya y se desvanezca, su poder y fuerza aumentan en mí y a través de mí.
Durante el Adviento, estamos llamados a contemplar el Don que se nos da y a prepararnos para recibir a Aquel que todo lo puede, que todo lo hace nuevo. Pedimos la gracia de soltar nuestro egocentrismo para que nuestros brazos espirituales estén libres para abrazarlo plenamente.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com
Feature Image Credit: Phil Botha, unsplash.com/photos/a-statue-of-jesus-holding-a-cross-in-a-church-UjRy5jlYHEI
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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