A Reflection on
John 1:19-28
John
the Baptist stands in the wilderness, surrounded by religious authorities
demanding to know who he is. They ask if he's the Messiah, Elijah, or the
Prophet. To each question, John says no. He refuses every title of honor, every
chance to claim importance for himself. Instead, he points away from himself
entirely, declaring that he is merely "a voice crying out in the
desert" preparing the way for someone far greater. John knows something
profound: his entire mission is to decrease so that Jesus can increase. He
baptizes with water, but the One coming after him will baptize with the Holy
Spirit. John sees himself as unworthy even to untie the sandal strap of the
Messiah who already stands among them, though they don't recognize Him.
Today’s gospel reveals the heart of true discipleship. John the Baptist
embodies what every Christian is called to be: a witness who points toward
Jesus rather than toward themselves. In our world today, we're constantly
tempted to build our own kingdoms, our own empires, to seek recognition,
validation and praise, to measure our worth by how many people notice us in
what we have accomplished in life. But John shows us a different path. He found
perfect freedom and joy in knowing his purpose wasn't to be the light, but to
testify to the light. His humility wasn't weakness; it was strength rooted in
truth. He knew exactly who he was and who he wasn't, and that clarity gave him
incredible power to fulfill his mission.
When we pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, we walk with Mary
through the early days of our salvation. In the Visitation, we see Mary, carrying
God Himself within her womb, rushing to serve her elderly cousin Elizabeth.
Like John the Baptist, Mary never seeks attention for herself. She points to
her Son. Even when Elizabeth proclaims her blessed, Mary's response is the
Magnificat: "My soul magnifies the Lord." Both Mary and John
understand that their greatness lies not in being recognized, but in making
Jesus known. The Rosary teaches us this same lesson in every mystery. As we
meditate on Jesus's life through Mary's eyes, we learn to decrease so He can
increase in our hearts. Each Hail Mary is a practice in humility, acknowledging
that all grace comes through God's initiative, not our merit. Just as each Our
Father is a full acknowledgment of God the Father as our Lord, and that he always
comes first and foremost in our lives.
Questions to
Consider:
·
In
what areas of my life am I still seeking recognition rather than quietly
pointing others toward Jesus?
·
When
people encounter me, do they leave thinking about me or thinking about Jesus? This
is a critical question to think about; this question just may help us change the
direction of our conversations from self and me, to Jesus and Mary.
·
Like
John in the wilderness, am I willing to embrace a mission that might not bring
me worldly success or approval?
·
How
can I cultivate John's clarity about my own identity and purpose, knowing who I
am in God's eyes rather than anxiously seeking validation from others? We
must take our eyes off self.
·
When
I pray the Rosary, do I approach it as another task to complete, or as a school
of humility where Mary teaches me to magnify the Lord rather than myself? Recommendation:
When you Pray The Rosary, think of it similarly to how you might think of your
favorite song, without thinking of your favorite song. I say that because what
happens when we hear and sing along with our favorite song? It’s stuck in our
heads all day. NOW, fill that thought with the Rosary, and let the prayers and mysteries
be stuck in your head all day after you Pray The Rosary.
Additional thought:
I hope you don’t mind, but I would like to share more from my research and
prayer time. About John the Baptist, in scripture, Jesus personally identifies John as the
greatest human figure in history up to that point.
Key scriptures highlighting his
greatness include:
- Jesus Himself States: In Matthew 11:11 and Luke
7:28, Jesus declares, "Truly I tell you, among those born of women
there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist."
- John is More than a Prophet: Jesus explains that John was "more
than a prophet" because he was the specific messenger chosen to
prepare the way for the Messiah (Matthew 11:9-10).
- The Spirit of Elijah: Scripture identifies John as the fulfillment
of the prophecy that Elijah would return before the "day of the
Lord" (Matthew 11:14, Malachi 4:5).
- Divine Approval from Birth: An angel told his father, Zechariah, that
John would be "great in the sight of the Lord" and filled
with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:15).
- Even In His Mother’s Womb: John the Baptist recognized the Lord’s presence
even in the womb of his mother, “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”
(Luke 1:41)
- A "Burning and Shining Lamp": In John 5:35, Jesus describes John as a
"burning and shining lamp" in whose light people were
willing to rejoice.
Let us be like John, always pointing everyone to Jesus not ourselves.
©2026 James Dacey, Jr., OFS
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