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 