Saturday after Epiphany

R.        (see 4a)  The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R.        The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R.        The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R.        The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

–       That the Church may continue with compassion the task of healing of Jesus our Lord, that the sick may be comforted, the downtrodden set free, and the poor and the weak be protected, we pray:

–       That in our Christian communities we may be concerned about one another as the Lord is solicitous about us, and that we may enrich one another with every good gift of heart and mind, we pray:

–       That those whose faith has been shaken by the changes in the Church and in the world, may learn to trust again in the Lord and find inner peace, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

We bring before you, loving Father,
these gifts of bread and wine,
which come from your own hand.
They are the signs of life and growth.
Open our hearts to the depth
of the life of Jesus, your Son,
that our life, commonplace as it is,
may be rich and full
with the goodness and warmth of Jesus.
May thus our life become
a hymn of praise and thanks to you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord God, loving Father,
our sharing in this Eucharist
has borne witness to our living faith
in the person and life of your Son.
May his presence among us not leave us indifferent
but commit us to break the chains of evil
and to let his justice and loyal love
grow in us and in the world.
We are confident that you will hear our prayer
on account of him who lives in us,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

With John the Baptist, may we say: may we decrease, that is, consider ourselves less important, but may the Lord Jesus increase and grow in us, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

REFLECTIONS 

The Signifier and the Signified

John the Baptist was the signifier (= the voice) pointing to the signified (= Christ). And once the signified arrives, the signifier must retreat. John knew this very well and played his role to perfection. “He must increase, and I must decrease,” do did John declare, so did he carry it out; and he had no regrets doing so, only sense of fulfilment. Unfortunately, many signifiers in the spiritual world have difficulty ceding the place to the signified when the latter arrives or people arrive at the signified. There is a pleasure in being the focus of attention, and hence, it is a real temptation to delay the arrival of the signified or even block it. Dying to self is a hard act. John practised this ars moriendi, the art of dying. No wonder Jesus would say later that there was no one among those born of woman greater than John!

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John 3:22-30

 Embracing Humility: The Witness of John the Baptist

The Gospel passage reflects on humility and the importance of each Christian in God’s mission. It describes the shift from John the Baptist’s ministry to Jesus'sthriving mission, a moment that might evoke feelings of jealousy and insecurity. However, John’s reaction demonstrates the discernment of his purpose and a deep humility anchored in God’s intentions.

As Jesus’ ministry expands and attracts more followers, John’s disciples grow worried, feeling overshadowed by His success. Concerned about John’s diminishing influence, they propose that he should separate himself from Jesus. Their response, which many of us can relate to, stems from a sense of comparison and a longing for acknowledgement—traits inherent to humanity. We frequently grapple with jealousy and envy when we witness others outpacing us in success.

John’s response exemplifies self-awareness and faith. He likens his role to that of a wedding, where Jesus is the bridegroom and he is the friend celebrating the union of the bride and groom.   In Jewish tradition, this role was pivotal, ensuring the union was arranged and celebrated with care. John sees his mission as complete with the union of Jesus and His people, and he rejoices wholeheartedly.

This passage reminds us that true success lies not in personal glory but in fulfilling the role God has entrusted to us. John’s joy in seeing Jesus’ mission flourish highlights the freedom and satisfaction found in humility. When we centre our lives on Christ and His purposes, we find joy in others’ success and peace in our unique contributions to God’s plan.

As we reflect on John’s witness, let us pray for the grace to embrace our God-given roles with humility and to find joy in others' success.  

Embracing Humility: The Witness of John the Baptist - Youtube