January 8, 2022
Saturday after Epiphany
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, our readings offer us a theme of CONFIDENCE with a dash of JOY.
John begins with the reassuring verse:
From the Latin root meaning “to have full trust”, confidence is a rare and beautiful blessing in our lives. How many people or things are you able to trust that deeply? Are you blessed with a true confidant in your life?
John tells us that this is the kind of relationship we can and should have with God.
He says that when we pray with this confidence, we trust whatever answer we receive to bring us grace and life.
In our Gospel, John the Baptist’s followers are having a little trouble with their confidence. They are unsettled by the appearance and rising popularity of Jesus. John says to trust what is happening. He had already told them that a greater One would come after him.
John’s ultimate response is worth repeating in prayer, “So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”
When Christ shines through us
without hindrance of our pride or fears,
how complete our joy will be,
how profoundly rooted our confidence!
Poetry: JOHN THE BAPTIST: THE PASSOVER (JOHN 1:35–39) by Irene Zimmerman, OSF
For years he’d preached the coming was at hand.
Zimmerman, Irene. Incarnation (p. 42). Cowley Publications. Kindle Edition.
Now John saw Jesus walking on the strand.
“Behold the Lamb of God!” he called, and sent
his own disciples hurrying. They went,
filling Jesus’ footprints in the sand
faster than the water could. John stayed and poured
the river on the people and passed them over to his Lord.
Music: Jesu, Joy of Our Desiring – J.S. Bach (interpreted by Daniel Kobialka)
Lavish Mercy 
January 8 would have been our 39th wedding anniversary. My husband was hospitalized during (not with) Covid for six weeks and I could not visit him. I took off my wedding rings,tied them to the crucifix and prayed that I might see him before he died. That day he went to hospice and I stayed with him till he went to God on Ascension Day. Jesu was the music at his Mass of the Resurrection. Thank you for this beautiful reflection.
LikeLiked by 2 people
God bless you, Ellen, and enfold your tender heart in faith. Thank you for sharing the gift of yours and your husband’s faithful love.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This post was profound! Especially meditating on the words, art and poetry while listening to 17 minutes of Jesu. Tomorrow I will use this to teach Restored Order Confirmation and Eucharist to 3rd graders. For me the poem, The Passover, is a metaphor for moving from a state of infant borrowed faith to John’s, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Joy Complete
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Donna. God bless you and those precious 3rd graders!❤️🙏
LikeLike