Weekend Mass

Dear Beloved Family of St. Anselm,

As Ordinary Time opens, the lectionary continues to "introduce" Christ to us. "Who is Jesus Christ? In today's Gospel, John the Baptist elaborates on five things about Jesus:

I Prefigured – John the Baptist said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." Some 1,800 years before this event, Isaac had asked his Father, Abraham: "Behold, the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" (Gen 22:6ff). God indeed provided a ram, which pointed to Christ. Years later, the blood of the lamb also protected Isaac's descendants from death in Egypt. Every Passover, the question was still asked, "Where is the Lamb?" referring to the Passover lamb. In answer to Isaac's question, "Where is the Lamb?" John declares, "Behold the Lamb of God." Christ was prefigured, as seen here and in many other places in the Old Testament.

II Preexistent – He is the one of whom I said, “A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.” Jesus was born six months after John the Baptist, yet John says that Jesus existed before him. Before assuming a human nature, Jesus existed eternally with the Father: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made (John 1:1).

III. Preeminent – I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel. In effect, John is saying, "My purpose is to reveal Him." He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30). Jesus is greater than John or any prophet or world leader. Jesus is the Groom; John is but the best man.

IV Powerful – John testified further, saying, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and remain upon him.'" The Baptism of John could only call for repentance and not truly wash away sins; the Baptism of Jesus can. Moreover, not only does Jesus' Baptism atone for sins, but it also confers the Holy Spirit. In Baptism, we are given a whole new life. Sin is taken away, and in its place, grace is given to restore us, renew us, and seal us with the Holy Spirit. Scripture also says, But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become the children of God (Jn 1:12).

V. Presence of God – Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God. Jesus would say elsewhere, To see me is to have seen the Father; the Father and I are one (John 14:9). As the Son of God, He manifests the Father; He is the presence of God in this world. He shares fully in the one divine essence and, as Son, shows us the Father. Jesus is the presence of God among us!

Amen.