Ordinary Time

January 14, 2023

Scripture Reading:

John 1:29-42

The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’ –John 1:29-34

I do not know which John wrote the book of John or even if it was only named to honor the disciple, but I do like how the author writes. After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me. In one poetic sentence, the writer of John told the whole history of Christ’s being. He was present at creation and is coming to lead us forward into God’s kingdom.

I read the Bible primarily as story. I think I always have. God cannot be carefully dissected and thus understood in totality. We piece together the ways of God by the pictures drawn in antiquity, bringing to life that which cannot be fully understood. Yet, from those historical pictures, we can glean the very essence of God, the Creator, Parent, Son, and Spirit guiding us into becoming the person God created us to be as individuals and as crucial interconnected parts of the Beloved Community.

The challenge of reading scripture as story or fact is the same. We are tempted to read the script the way we want it to be and not necessarily the way God meant it to be. Thus, we must maintain good communication channels with God in all of God’s manifestations with clean hearts and right spirits.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the gift of scripture and the gifts of prayer and meditation, so they all blend together, bringing us closer to you. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.