Daily Scripture, January 11, 2025
Scripture:
Reflection:
When John the Baptist declared of Jesus, “He must increase; I must decrease” (Jn 3.30), he meant that for others to know Jesus, John must move to the background. The Baptist’s words also revealed two inseparable truths: If Jesus is to increase in our lives, we must decrease. For one to happen, the other must occur. These two realities are dependent on each other.
And if we somehow missed the message, the Baptist comes at it from another angle. He describes a wedding procession. Everyone waits in anticipation at the bride’s house for the bridegroom to come and lead his bride back to his own house, accompanied by her bridesmaids, family, and friends. When the best man hears the bridegroom’s voice and the nuptial procession has arrived, he announces that the wedding celebration may now begin. His duty has been completed. John, the best man, makes Jesus known to Israel, the Lord’s covenantal bride. With Jesus’s arrival, the Messianic wedding celebration may begin. In this relationship, too, the bridegroom increases, and the best man decreases.
We may mistakenly believe the way to magnify Jesus is through our worth, our success, and importance, but not through our weakness or brokenness. Yet, this is how God chooses to magnify his worth to us and the world. Mary, a humble girl from an obscure village, proclaimed this truth in her Magnificat: “My soul proclaims the greatness the Lord…” (Lk 1:46.) So too did the Apostle Paul understand this paradoxical truth when he declared, “…when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12.10.)
Only when the best man fades to the background, only when the Baptist decreases, is he prepared to announce – in the present tense – that his joy is now full. But he doesn’t stop there. Like all good prophets, he points to us, challenges us to decrease, so that Christ may increase and assume his place at the center of our lives.
Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.
The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Scripture: Judges 11:29-39a Matthew 22:1-14 Reflection: I apologize for not writing about today’s readings – I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like » Continue Reading.
Memorial of St. Pius X Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:2b-8 Matthew 20:1-16 Reflection: As we approach the Labor Day celebration for 2013, we do so, mindful of the important role labor » Continue Reading.
Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church Scripture: Judges 6:11-24a Matthew 19:23-30 Reflection: "Who, me? I can’t do what you ask because I’m a nobody. I’m just » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Judges 6:11-24a Matthew 19:23-30 Reflection: "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?" Matthew 19:16 The readings for today’s Mass contrast expectations and experience. The first reading » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 Hebrews 12:1-4 Luke 12:49-53 Reflection: In Sunday’s Gospel reading (Luke 12:49-53), Jesus says some words that have always been challenging to me, but at this moment » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Joshua 24:14-29 Matthew 19:13-15 Reflection: It is in keeping this over-riding theme in mind that the first reading today is then a bit easier to understand. God’s faithfulness should » Continue Reading.
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Scripture: Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 Luke 1:39-56 Reflection: These readings may take on a little more significance » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Deuteronomy 10:12-22 Matthew 17:22-27 Reflection: Last year at this time, we celebrated 25 years of consecrated life of three Religious Indigenous Women: Sr. Fabiana Arcos , Sr. Micaela Lopez and » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 John 12:24-26 Reflection: The over-riding mentality of scarcity and competition in our society is troubling. As a nation, as companies, and too often as individuals, we » Continue Reading.
St. Edith Stein, Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:32-40 Matthew 16:24-28 Reflection: Edith Stein, Carmelite sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, died on August 9, 1942 in » Continue Reading.