Today's Gospel

Turn to the Holy Spirit

Welcome back to Radical and Relevant. Our reading today comes from the Gospel of John 1: 29 - 34. So we're making our way through the first chapter of John. Yesterday, we had the Pharisees sent some people out to question John. Today, this is what we have. The next day, he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, 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 before me, for he was before me. I myself did not know him. But for this, I came baptizing with water that he might be revealed to Israel." And John bore witness. I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. What is it that jumps out at you today? So again, we've got the reading starting and we're not really sure who it is. The next day he saw Jesus coming. Who saw? Well, John the Baptist. Yesterday, the Pharisees came questioning him. Today, he sees Jesus coming.

And what does he say? Behold, a Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world. Where do we have that? We have that like so many phrases from the Scriptures. We have that line straight from the mass, right? Straight from the mass. And so the mass constantly is just dripping with Scripture. It's just drawing us into Scripture. And John the Baptist says over and over here in this reading, he says, "I didn't know him." So then we're asking ourselves, "Okay, well, how did he know him? If he didn't know him, how did he know that this is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world? How did he know that this is the Son of God?" And of course, John explains that. He says that God spoke to him and he said, "The one whom the Spirit descends upon and remains with, he is the Son of God." And he tells us that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit, that's something that jumps out of me today because I think we witness here how clearly John the Baptist is being guided by the Spirit of God. And yet, we speak so little, really, of the Holy Spirit. We speak very little of saying to somebody, "Okay, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you," or, "What do you feel like the Holy Spirit is saying to you in this situation?" We have so many decisions to make in our lives, but when is the last time you turned to the Holy Spirit and said, "Holy Spirit, guide me. Give me wisdom. Show me what is the right decision to make here. And maybe you have a decision to make in your life today." And maybe what God is calling you to today is to invite the Holy Spirit into your heart, into your mind, into your life to help you make that decision. Have a great day, and remember, don't just be yourself. Be the very best version of yourself, all that God created you to be.