Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

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Gospel
John 1:29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.'
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel."
John testified further, saying,
"I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."

Reflection

Whenever we listen to stories of Scripture, we have to remember it’s our story, the things that happened to these people can and will happen to us. And this is an unusual story in a sense that we are told that John received a message from God saying, I'll show you the one who is to come after you to take on this role that I long to see accomplished. Me being in you, my being in the human race, teaching, revealing, healing.

And so he had a sign. The one that you see being baptized and you hearing my words, that this is the one who I favor, this is the one whom I have sent to bring grace upon grace to the world. What an amazing thing that God has done for John to give him that kind of sureness through a sign.

When you pray for a sign, believe it can be given. Maybe not as dramatic as what we just listened to, but it is nonetheless the way that God works is to reveal himself to you and to me. And if you ask for ways in which you can find him, see him, know him, He will respond.

Closing Prayer

Father, signs and wonders are throughout the stories of Scripture, so give us courage and enthusiasm, to ask for signs. It's not wrong to want something from God to assure us of His will and His ways. So do not hesitate to pray and to ask and to seek and to listen and to interpret. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.